LOGICAL

REASONING
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
VAMBARILLI RAMBABU, a M.Tech graduate is presently associated with

International School of Technology and Sciences for WOMEN as a Reasoning Trainer

started his debut work with this book. He is best known for his philanthropic motto of helping

the students in preparing for campus placements, competitive examinations and various

entrance exams. He has a rich experience of extending his support to students who are

interested to learn Logical Reasoning. His thirst in training the students didn’t look an end point

even after training 10000+ students and this book will add more feather into his cap.
 Preface
This book focuses primarily on imparting Logical Reasoning Skills for effective
performance in the campus placements and also various other competitive examinations like
CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT and GRE Bank Pos and IBPS exams. The learners need to have
not only technical skills, but also the Logical Reasoning skills to crack the qualifying exams,
both for higher studies and also for Campus placements.
This book contains a huge collection of objective type questions with three different
levels (Basic, Moderate and Advanced) which facilitates the learners to enhance their
reasoning skills. The learners will analyze the concepts of Logical and Analytical Reasoning
and apply the same in their future endeavors in a professional way.
This book is expected to be an asset for the learners and helps them like an ideal
teacher. It creates a platform for the learners to explore their ability in different occasions which
equips them with useful insights in their careers.
This book is the outcome of a collective effort by the faculty members of the department
of Training and Placement Cell in ISTS. Experts from the fields of Quantitative Aptitude,
Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Soft Skills set out on a mission to empower students of
the institution as well as students from other institutions in these vital, but most often
overlooked, areas.

The two modules discussed in this book are given below:

• Reasoning
o Logical Reasoning
o Analytical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning measures your ability to understand, analyze and evaluate

arguments. Each question is based on a short passage or a set of conditions. Questions on
Logical Reasoning may focus on Logical Consistency as well as Deductive and Inductive logic
governing Syllogistic situations or Assertion-Reason-Conclusion type questions.
Analytical Reasoning questions require you to make Deductions from a set of rules,
Protocols, Statements or Conditions that describe relationships among entities such as persons,
places, things or events. These problems simulate the kinds of detailed analysis of relationships
that a student must be adept at handling.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
My sincere thanks to Mr. Upendra Reddy, chairman of ISTS women’s Engineering
college for his constant encouragement to me to write and complete this book on ‘Logical
Reasoning’.
I thank Mrs. Anusha Reddy, Vice-chairperson of ISTS women’s Engineering college
for her continuous support and helped me to define the style of some of the chapters.
I would like to express my gratitude to Mrs.Rajasree Rao, Principal of ISTS women’s
Engineering college for taking great pains in transferring script material and proof material to
the verification and strived herd over the last few months. Her comments were helpful and
insightful.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
S.No. Topic Page No.

1 Number Series 1-11

2 Letter Series 12-21

3 Analogy 22-30

4 Odd One Out 31-35

5 Coding & Decoding 36-49

6 Logical Sequence of Words 50-56

7 Number, Sequence & Alphabet Test 57-66

8 Ranking Test 67-72

9 Blood Relations 73-81

10 Directions 82-91

11 Coded Inequalities 92-103

12 Venn Diagrams 104-111

13 Clocks 112-124

14 Calendars 125-132

15 Cubes & Dices 133-147

16 Puzzle Test 148-157

17 Seating Arrangement 158-167

18 Data Sufficiency 168-176

19 Syllogism 177-187
 CHAPTER 1
NUMBER SERIES
1. INTRODUCTION:
Series means particular Order. The logic is built in between the numbers is called
Number Series. For better understanding we will classify Number Series into the following
broad categories. They are
i. Difference series
ii. Product series
iii. Squares/Cubes series
iv. Miscellaneous series
v. Combination series
1.1 Difference Series: The difference series can be further classified into two categories.
i. Number series with constant difference
ii. Number series with increasing or decreasing difference
1.1.1 Number series with constant difference: In the number series with constant difference,
there is always a constant difference between two consecutive numbers. For example, the
numbers of the series 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 ........ are such that any number is obtained by adding a
constant figure of 3 to the preceding term of the series.
1.1.2 Number series with increasing or decreasing difference: In the series with
increasing/decreasing difference, the difference between consecutive terms keeps increasing
(or decreasing, as the case may be). For example, let us try to find out the next number in the
series 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 17, 23.........
1.2 Product Series: A product series is usually a number series where the terms are obtained
by a process of multiplication. Here also there can be different types of series. We will look at
these through examples.
Consider the series 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64........ Here, each number in the series is multiplied
by 2 to get the next term. So, the term that comes after 64 is 128.So, each term is multiplied by
a fixed number to get the next term.
1.3 Squares/Cubes Series: There can be series where all the terms are related to the squares
of numbers or cubes of numbers. With squares/cubes of number as the basis, there can be many
variations in the pattern of the series. Let us look at various possibilities of series based on
squares/cubes.

1
 Each term of the series may be the square of a natural number, such as 1, 4, 9, 16 ...The
numbers are squares of 1, 2, 3, 4 .......respectively. The number which follows 16(which is the
square of 4) will be 25(which is the square of 5).
1.4 Miscellaneous Series: There are series that do not come under the other patterns, but are
important and are fairly common. Even here, sometimes, there can be a specific pattern in some
cases. Take the series 3, 5, 7, 11, 13 ...this is the series of PRIMES NUMBERS. It is an
important series and the student should look out for this as one of the patterns. The next term
in this series is 17. There can also be variations using prime numbers. Take the series 9, 25, 49,
121 .... In this series, the terms are SQUARES of prime numbers. Hence, the next term is 132,
i.e., 169.
1.5 Combination Series: A number series which has more than one type of (arithmetic)
operation performed or more than one series combined together is a combination series. The
series that are combined can be two series of the same type or could be different types of series
described above. Let us look at some examples.
First let us look at series that are formed by more than one arithmetic operation
performed on the terms to give the subsequent terms. Consider the series 2, 6, 10, 3, 9, 13, 4,
12, ..........Here, the first term 2 is multiplied by 3 to get the second term, and 4 is added to get
the third term. The next term is 3 is multiplied by 3 to get 9 and then 4 is added to get the next
term 13. The next term 4 is multiplied with 3 to get 12, the next term, and then 4 is added to
this to get the next number 16.
1.5.1 Arithmetic (Sum/Difference) Series: An arithmetic series is obtained by adding (or)
subtracting the same value each time. These types of series will have a fixed difference between
the two consecutive terms. The value added each time is called as “common difference”.
EXAMPLE: 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, 16, ?.
SOLUTION: The above sequence has a difference of 3 between each number.
The pattern is continued by adding 3 to each number.
Hence, the next term is 16 + 3 = 19.
1.5.2 Geometric (Multiplication/Division) Series: The pattern will be identified by
multiplying or dividing the term by some number to obtain the next term. The value multiplied
(or) divided each time is called as “common ratio”.
EXAMPLE 1: 1, 3, 9, 27, 81, ?.
SOLUTION: Here the next term is obtained by multiplying by 3.
1 × 3 = 3;
3 × 3 = 9;

2
 9 × 3 = 27;
27 × 3 = 81;
So, the next number should be 81 × 3 = 243.

EXAMPLE 2: 720, 120, 24, 6, 2, ?.

SOLUTION: Here, if you closely observe that there is no particular difference. Here, the
pattern is :

720 ÷ 6 = 120;
120 ÷ 5 = 24;
24 ÷ 4 = 6;
6 ÷ 3 = 2;
So, the next number should be 2 ÷ 2 = 1.

1.6 Mixed Series: These series basically involve different arithmetic operations together. This
series may be applicable when you cannot spot any common difference or common ratio in the
series.
EXAMPLE: 5, 12, 27, 58, 121, ?.
SOLUTION: Here, if you closely observe that there is no particular difference or ratio can be
spotted. Here, the pattern is as follows:
5 × 2 + 2 = 12
12 × 2 + 3 = 27
27 × 2 + 4 = 58
58 × 2 + 5 = 121
Therefore, the next term will be 121 × 2 + 6 = 248.
1.7 Alternate Series: In this for every alternate term forms a part of the series.
EXAMPLE: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
2, 10, 3, 15, 4, 20, 5, 25, 6, ?,

SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is for alternate numbers.

2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10, 15, 20, 25, ?
2+1=3 10 + 5 = 15
3+1=4 15 + 5 = 20
4+1=5 20 + 5 = 25
5+1=6 25 + 5 = 30
So, the next number in the series is 30.

3
2. Special number Series:
a) Prime numbers: Prime numbers are special numbers, which are divisible by 1 and itself.
b) Fibonacci series: Fibonacci series are special series where the present value is obtained by
adding previous two values. Consider the series 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, …..
Here, the logic is 1 + 2 = 3,
2 + 3 = 5,
3 + 5 = 8,
5 + 8 = 13, 8 + 13 = 21
Hence, the next term is 13 + 21 = 34.
3. Exponential Series: These series will be in the form of ax. These series could be perfect
squares or cubes etc.
EXAMPLE 1: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, ?.
SOLUTION: If you closely observe the given numbers, these are perfect square numbers.
Here, the pattern is 12 = 1;
22 = 4;
32 = 9;
42 = 16;
52 = 25;
62 = 36;
72 = 49;
So, the next number is 82 = 6.

EXAMPLE 2: 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, ?.

SOLUTION: If you closely observe the given numbers, these are perfect cube numbers.
Here, the pattern is 13 = 1;
23 = 8;
33 = 27;
43 = 64;
53 = 125;
63 = 216;
73 = 343;
So, the next number is 83 = 512.

4
 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?

11, 14, 19, 22, 27, 30, ?

SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
11 + 3 = 14
14 + 5 = 19 Logic: Here, the given sequence is
following the logic +3, +5 alternately.
19 + 3 = 22
22 + 5 = 27
27 + 3 = 30
Therefore, next number is 30 + 5 = 35.
EXAMPLE 2: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
6, 12, 21, 33, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
6 + 6 = 12 Logic: Here, the given sequence is
following the logic +6, +9, +12 and +15.
12 + 9 = 21
21 + 12 = 33
So, the next number is 33 + 15 = 48.
EXAMPLE 3: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
4, 9, 25, 49, 121, 169, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
22 = 4
32 = 9 Logic: Here, the given numbers are
52 = 25 perfect squares of prime numbers.

72 = 49
112 = 121
132 = 169
So, the next number is 172 = 289.
Therefore, the next number in the series is 289.

5
EXAMPLE 4: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
18, 22, 30, 46, ?, 142
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
18 + 4 = 22
Logic: Here, the given sequence is following
22 + 8 = 30 the logic +4, +8, +16, +32 and +64.

30 + 16 = 46
So, the next number is 46 + 32 = 78.
78 + 64 = 142
EXAMPLE 5: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
25, 25, 50, 150, 600, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
25 × 1 = 25 Logic: Here, the given sequence is following
the logic ×1, ×2, ×3, ×4 and ×5.
25 × 2 = 50
50 × 3 = 150
150 × 4 = 600
Hence, the next number is 600 × 5 = 3000
Therefore, the next term in the series is 3000.
EXAMPLE 6: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
2, 6, 12, 20, 30, 42, 56, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
1×2=2
2×3=6
3 × 4 = 12
4 × 5 = 20
5 × 6 = 30 Logic: Here, the logic is each number is a
continuous product of two natural numbers.
6 × 7 = 42
7 × 8 = 56
So, the next number becomes 8 × 9 = 72
Therefore, the next term it should be 72.

6
EXAMPLE 7: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
13, 21, 48, 112, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
13 + 8 (23) = 21 Logic: Here, the logic is differences are
perfect cubes (8, 27, 64, 125).
21 + 27 (33) = 48
48 + 64 (43) = 112
So, the next number is 112 + 125 (53) = 237
Therefore, the next number it should be 237.
EXAMPLE 8: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
1, 7, 3, 9, 6, 12, 10, 16, 15, ?,
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is for alternate numbers.
1, 3, 6, 10, 15 and 7, 9, 12, 16, ?
1+2=3 7+2=9 Logic: Here, the logic is for alternate
3+3=6 9 + 3 = 12 numbers which is +2, +3, +4, and +5.

6 + 4 = 10 12 + 4 = 16
10 + 5 = 15 So, the next number is 16 + 5 = 21.
Therefore, the next number it should be 21.
EXAMPLE 9: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
3, 12, 27, 48, 75, 108, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
3 × 12 = 3
3 × 22 = 12
Logic: Here the logic in every number is
2 3 multiplied by square of all-natural
3 × 3 = 27
numbers starts from 1.
3 × 42 = 48
3 × 52 = 75
3 × 62 = 108
So, the next number is 3 × 72 = 147.
Therefore, the next number it should be 147.

7
EXAMPLE 10: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
3, 7, 16, 35, 74, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
3×2+1=7
7 × 2 + 2 = 16 Logic: Here, the logic is × 2 + 1, × 2 + 2, ×
16 × 2 + 3 = 35 2 + 3, × 2 + 4, × 2 + 5.

35 × 2 + 4 = 74
Hence, the next number is 74 × 2 + 5 = 153.
Therefore, the next number in the series is 153.
EXAMPLE 11: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
6, 3, 3, 4.5, 9, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
6 × 0.5 = 3 Logic: Here, the logic is
3×1=3 ×0.5, ×1, ×1.5, ×2 and ×2.5.
3 × 1.5 = 4.5
4.5 × 2 = 9
So, the next number is 9 × 2.5 = 22.5.
Therefore, the next it should be 22.5
EXAMPLE 12: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
4.5, 18, 2.25, 27, 1.6875, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
4.5 × 4 = 18
Logic: Here, the logic for given numbers is
18 ÷ 8 = 2.25 × 4, ÷ 8, × 12, ÷ 16 and × 20.

2.25 × 12 = 27
27 ÷ 16 = 1.6875
So, the next number becomes 1.6875 × 20 = 33.75.
Therefore, next number is 33.75

8
EXAMPLE 13: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
10, 67, 341, 1369, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
(10 × 6) + 7 = 67
Logic: Here, the pattern follows for the
(67 × 5) + 6 = 341 given numbers are × 6 + 7, × 5 + 6, × 4 +
5, × 3 + 4.
(341 × 4) + 5 = 1369
So, the next number is (1369 × 3) + 4 = 4111.
Hence, the answer is 4111.
EXAMPLE 14: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
5, 7.5, 12.5, 22.5, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
Logic: Here, every number follows the
5 × 2 – 2.5 = 7.5
same logic to get the next number; i.e.
7.5 × 2 – 2.5 = 12.5 × 2 – 2.5.

12.5 × 2 – 2.5 = 22.5

So, the next number is 22.5 × 2 – 2.5 = 42.5.
Hence, the next number is 42.5.

EXAMPLE 15: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following number series?
2, 3, 8, 63, ?
SOLUTION: Here, the pattern is
2 Logic: Here, the logic for the given
2 –1=3
2 numbers is 2, 22 – 1, 32 – 1, 82 – 1, 632 – 1.

32 – 1 = 8
82 – 1 = 63
So, the next number is 632 – 1 = 3968.
Therefore, the next number it should be 3968.

9
 EXERCISE

1. Find the next number in the series 42, 40, 38, 35, 33, 31, 28, ?, ?
A. 25, 22 B.26, 23 C. 26, 24. D. 25, 23
2. Look at this series: 664, 332, 340, 170, ____, 89, what number should fill the blank?
A. 85 B. 97 C. 109 D. 178
3. Find the next number in the series 2,5,8,11,….
A.15 B. 12 C. 14 D. none of these
4. Find the next number in the series 2, 7, 12, 17,…
A. 20 B. 22. C. 25 D. 30
5. Find the next number in the series 13, 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 85, 97, 109,….
A. 120 B. 122 C. 121 D. 125
6. Find the next number in the series 2, 8, 12, 48, 52,…
A. 208 B. 210 C. 310 D. 104
7. Find the next number in the series 135, 246, 357, 468,…
A. 578 B. 577 C. 579 D. 570
8. Find the next number in the series 13, 24, 35, 46, 57,…
A. 69 B. 67 C. 87 D. 68
9. Find the next number in the series 1, 2, 2, 4, 8, 32,…
A. 256 B. 266 C. 276 D. none of these
10. Find the next number in the series 23, 68, 113, 158, 203,…
A. 252 B. 248 C. 242 D. 256
11. Find the next number in the series 2, 2, 4, 12, 48, 240,…
A. 1680 B. 1560 C. 1440 D. 1320
12. Find the next number in the series 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30,…42
A. 36 B. 38 C. 37 D. 33
13. Find the next number in the series 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, __, __?
A. 21, 23 B. 23, 29 C. 41, 43 D. 29, 31
14. Find the next number in the series 2, 81, 4, __, 8, 9, 16, 3
A. 42 B. 36 C. 54 D. 27
15. Find the next number in the series 3, 8, 15, 24, __
A.31 B. 35 C.39 D. 43

10
 KEY
1) C 2) D 3) C 4) B 5) C 6) A 7) C 8) D 9) A 10) B

11) C 12) A 13) B 14) D 15) B

11
 CHAPTER 2
LETTER SERIES
1. INTRODUCTION:
Letter series is a logical arrangement of letters of English alphabet arranged in a
specified pattern. In this, a series of letters, group of letters or combination of letters and
numbers is given. So first required to identify this pattern and find the missing term in the given
series which will satisfy the pattern.

1.1 Different Types of Letter series:

1) Alphabet Series
2) Continuous pattern Series
3) Mixed Series (Alpha-numeric series)
1.1.1 Alphabet Series: In this type, letters of English alphabet are arranged in a particular
pattern like reverse order of letters, skipping of letters, position of letters in alphabetical order
etc.

EXAMPLE 1: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?
C, H, M, R, ?
SOLUTION: C = 3, H = 8, M = 13, R = 18.
Here, the difference between the letters is 5.
So, the next letter is W (18 + 5 = 23).

EXAMPLE 2: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

DGY, CIV, BKS, AMP, ?

SOLUTION: D = 4, C = 3, B = 2, A = 1 (Decreasing by 1)

So, the next letter is Z (A – 1 = Z).

G = 7, I = 9, K = 11, M = 13 (Increasing by 2)

So, the next letter is O (M + 2 = O).

Y = 25, V = 22, S = 19, P = 16 (Decreasing by 3)

So, the next letter is M (P – 3 = M). Therefore, next term is ZOM.

12
EXAMPLE 3: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?
BL, DN, FP, HR, ?
SOLUTION: B = 2, D = 4, F = 6, H = 8.
L = 12, N = 14, P = 16, R = 18.
Here, 1st letter and 2nd letter in each term is increases by 2.

So, the next term is JT (H + 2 = J and R + 2 = T).

Therefore, the next term in the series is JT.

1.1.2 Continuous pattern series: In this type, a series of small/capital letters are given which
follow a particular pattern. However, some letters are missing from the series. The series follow
a specific pattern and candidates are required to find the letters which should come in place of
the blank spaces.

EXAMPLE 1: In each of the following letter series, some of the letters are missing which are
given in that order as one of the alternatives below it. Choose the correct alternative.

gfe _ ig _ eii _ fei _ gf _ ii

a) eifgi b) figie c) ifgie d) ifige
SOLUTION: Here, the series is gfeii/ gfeii/ gfeii/ gfeii.
Thus, the pattern ‘gfeii’ is repeated.

So, the answer is ifgie.

EXAMPLE 2: In each of the following letter series, some of the letters are missing which are
given in that order as one of the alternatives below it. Choose the correct alternative.

_ aa _ ba _ bb _ ab _ aab

a) aaabb b) babab c) bbbaa d) bbaab

SOLUTION: Here, the series is: baab/baab/baab/baab.

Thus, the pattern ‘baab’ is repeated.

So, the answer is bbaab.

1.1.3 Mixed Series: In this type, the series is based on the combination of both the letters and
numbers. Each term in the series follows a certain pattern based on either the alphabetical
position of the letters or the numbers in different correlation.

13
EXAMPLE 1: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?
X5C, U8F, ?, O17L, L23O
SOLUTION: X = 24, U = 21, ?, O = 15, L = 12 (Decreasing by 3)
So, the missing letter in the middle is ‘R’ (U – 3 = R).
5, 8, ?, 17, 23
Here, the logic is 5 + 3 = 8, 8 + 4 = 12, 12 + 5 = 17 and 17 + 6 = 23.
So, missing number in the middle is 12.
C = 3, F = 6, ?, L = 12, O = 15 (Increasing by 3)
So, the missing letter in the middle is ‘I’ (F + 3 = I).
Therefore, the missing term in the series is ‘R12I’.

EXAMPLE 2: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

P3C, R5F, T8I, V12L, ?

SOLUTION: P = 16, R = 18, T = 20, V = 22 (increased by 2)

So, next letter in the sequence is V + 2 = X.

3, 5, 8, 12, ?

Here, the logic is 3 + 2 = 5, 5 + 3 = 8, 8 + 4 = 12

So, next number in the sequence is 12 + 5 = 17.

C = 3, F = 6, I = 9, L = 12 (increased by 3)

So, next letter in the sequence is L + 3 = O.

Therefore, next term in the given series is X17O.

EXAMPLE 3: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?
A2C, B4F, C6I, ?
SOLUTION: A = 1, B = 2, C = 3, ? (Increasing by 1),
So, the missing letter is ‘D’ (C + 1 = D).
2, 4, 6, ?
Here, the logic is Increasing by 2, So, missing number is 8.
C = 3, F = 6, I = 9, ? (Increasing by 3)
So, the missing letter is ‘L’ (I + 3 = L).
Therefore, the missing term in the series is ‘D8L’.

14
 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

A, E, ?, O, U

SOLUTION: Here, all the given letters are consecutive vowels.

So, the next vowel after E is I.

Therefore, answer is I.

EXAMPLE 2: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

B, D, G, K, P, ?

SOLUTION: B = 2, D = 4, G = 7, K = 11, P = 16

Here, the logic is B + 2 = D, D + 3 = G, G + 4 = K, K + 5 = P

So, the next letter is P + 6 = V.

EXAMPLE 3: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

G, H, J, M, ?, V

SOLUTION: G = 7, H = 8, J = 10, M = 13, ?, V = 22

Here, the logic is G + 1 = H, H + 2 = J, J + 3 = M

So, the next letter in the given series is M + 4 = Q (13 + 4 = 17) and Q + 5 = V.

EXAMPLE 4: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

BE, GK, MR, TZ, ?

SOLUTION: B = 2, G = 7, M = 13, T = 20

Here, the logic is B + 5 = G, G + 6 = M, M + 7 = T

So, the next letter is T + 8 = B.

E = 5, K = 11, R = 18, Z = 26

Here, the logic is E + 6 = K, K + 7 = R, R + 8 = Z

So, the next letter is Z + 9 = I.

Therefore, next term in the given series is BI.

15
EXAMPLE 5: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

EA, IE, OK, SO, YU, ?

SOLUTION: Here, the pattern for 1st letters is:

E + 4 = I, I + 6 = O, O + 4 = S, S + 6 = Y

So, the next letter is Y + 4 = C.

Here, the pattern for 2nd letters is:

A + 4 = E, E + 6 = K, K + 4 = O, O + 6 = U

So, the next letter is U + 4 = Y.

Therefore, next term in the sequence is CY.

EXAMPLE 6: In each of the following letter series, some of the letters are missing which are
given in that order as one of the alternatives below it. Choose the correct alternative.

c _ bbb _ _ abbbb _ abbb _

a) aabcb b) abccb c) abacb d) baebb

SOLUTION: Here, the series is: cabbbb/cabbbb/cabbbb.

Thus, the pattern ‘cabbbb’ is repeated.

So, the answer is abccb.

EXAMPLE 7: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

JTU, ?, UCF, BFM, JHU

SOLUTION: Here, the pattern for 1st letters is:

J + 5 = O, O + 6 = U, U + 7 = B, B + 8 = J.

Here, the pattern for 2nd letters is:

T + 5 = Y, Y + 4 = C, C + 3 = F, F + 2 = H.

Here, the pattern for 3rd letters is:

U + 5 = Z, Z + 6 = F, F + 7 = M, M + 8 = U.

Therefore, next term after JTU is OYZ.

16
EXAMPLE 8: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

KPD, LOE, MNF, NMG, ?

SOLUTION: Here, the pattern for 1st letters is increased by 1.

K = 11, L = 12, M = 13, N = 14

So, next letter is N + 1 = O.

Here, the pattern for 2nd letters is decreased by 1.

P=16, O=15, N=14, M=13

So, the next letter is M – 1 = L.

Here, the pattern for 3rd letters is increased by 1.

D = 4, E = 5, F = 6, G = 7

So, the next letter is G + 1 = H.

Therefore, next term in the sequence is OLH.

EXAMPLE 9: In each of the following letter series, some of the letters are missing which are
given in that order as one of the alternatives below it. Choose the correct alternative.

_ stt _ tt _ tts _

a)tsts b) ttst c) sstt d) tsst

SOLUTION: Here, the series is tst/tst/tst/tst.

Thus, the pattern ‘tst’ is repeated.

So, the answer is tsst.

EXAMPLE 10: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

ZA, YB, XC, WD, ?

SOLUTION: Here, all 1st letters in each term are decreased by 1st and 2nd letters are increased
by 1.

Z, Y, X, W, ? (next letter is V)

A, B, C, D, ? (next letter is E).

Hence, the next term is VE.

17
EXAMPLE 11: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

KV10, MY22, OB46, QE94, SH190, ?

SOLUTION: K = 11, M = 13, O = 15, Q = 17, S = 19 (increased by 2)

So, next letter in the sequence is S + 2 = U.

V = 22, Y = 25, B = 2 (28), E = 5, H = 8 (increased by 3)

So, next letter in the sequence is H + 3 = K.

10, 22, 46, 94, 190, ?

Here, the logic is: 10 × 2 + 2 = 22

22 × 2 + 2 = 46

46 × 2 + 2 = 94

94 × 2 + 2 = 190

So, next number in the sequence is 190 × 2 + 2 = 382.

Therefore, next term in the given series is UK382.

EXAMPLE 12: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

ABDH, BDHP, CFLX, DHPF, ?

SOLUTION: Here, in 1st term A = 1, B = 2, D = 4, H = 8

A × 2 = B, B × 2 = D, D × 2 = H

Here, in 2nd term B = 2, D = 4, H = 8, P = 16

B × 2 = D, D × 2 = H, H × 2 = P.

Here, in 3rd term C = 3, F = 6, L = 12, X = 24

C × 2 = F, F × 2 = L, L × 2 = X.

Here, in 4th term D = 4, H = 8, P = 16, F = 6

D × 2 = H, H × 2 = P, P × 2 = F (32 – 26 = 6).

So, next term in the series is EJTN. (Since 1st letters are consecutive)

Therefore, the next term it should be EJTN.

18
EXAMPLE 13: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

TCFK, RADI, OXAF, JSVA, ?

SOLUTION: Here, the pattern for 1st letters is:

T – 2 = R, R – 3 = O, O – 5 = J, J – 7 = C.

Here, the pattern for 2nd letters is:

C – 2 = A, A – 3 = X, X – 5 = S, S – 7 = L.

Here, the pattern for 3rd letters is:

F – 2 = D, D – 3 = A, A – 5 = V, V – 7 = O.

Here, the pattern for 4th letters is:

k – 2 = I, I – 3 = F, F – 5 = A, A – 7 = T.

Therefore, next term is CLOT.

EXAMPLE 14: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter series?

BY, CX, EV, GT, KP, ?

SOLUTION: Here, all the 1st letters B, C, E, G, K are prime value positions.

B = 2, C = 3, E = 5, G = 7, K = 11

The numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 11 are consecutive prime numbers.

So, next prime number is 13.

Hence, the respective letter for 13 in English alphabet is M.

The 2nd letters in each term form an opposite pair of the 1st letter in that term.

Therefore, next pair in the series is MN.

19
 EXERCISE

1. B2CD, _____, BCD4, B5CD, BC6D

A. BC2D B. BC3D C. 2C3D D. BCD7
2. ZA5, Y4B, XC6, W3D, _____
A. E7V B. V2E C. VE5 D. VE7
3. DEF, DEF2, DE2F2, _____, D2E2F3
A. DEF3 B. D3EF3 C. D2E3F D. D2E2F2
4. P5QR, P4QS, P3QT, _____, P1QV
A. PQW B. PQV2 C. P2QU D. PQ3U
5. ELFA, GLHA, ILJA, _____, MLNA
A. OLPA B. KLMA C. LLMA D. KLLA
6. BD, GI, LN,QS ?
A. WX B. YW C. VT D. VX
7. CE, GI, KM, OQ, ?
A. SU B. TW C. TV D. TR
8. HUA, GTZ, FSY, ERX, ?
A. DWQ B. DQW C. WQD D. QWD
9. OTE, PUF, QVG, RWH, ?
A. SYJ B. SXI C. SXJ D. TXI
10. EJOT, DHLP, CFIL, ?
A. BDFH B. DGKL C. BHLM D. DEIJ
11. A, CD, GHI, ?, UVWXY
A. LMNO B. MNOP C. MNO D. NOPQ
12. DF, GJ, KM, NQ, RT, ?
A. UX B. UW C. XZ D. YA
13. BS, DT, FU, ?
A. XZ B. HV C. YA D. WC

20
 KEY

1) B 2) D 3) D 4) C 5) D 6) D 7) A 8) B 9) B 10) A

11) B 12) A 13) B

21
 CHAPTER 3
ANALOGY
1. INTRODUCTION:
Analogy means “similar item”. In questions on number analogies a pair of numbers that
have certain relationship between them is given. These two numbers are followed by a third
number. The student is expected to identify the relationship between the pair of numbers given
and find out a fourth number such that the relationship that exists between the third and the
fourth number is similar to the second number.
1.1 Types of Analogy:
1) Number Analogy
2) Letter Analogy
3) Word Analogy
1.1.1 Number Analogy: In the number analogies, we have to find the relationship of group of
numbers.
Typical relationships between the numbers in a given pair can be any of the following:
1. One number is a multiple of the other.
2. One number is the square or square root of the other.
3. One number is the cube or cube root of the other.
4. The two numbers are squares of two other numbers which themselves are related. For
example, the two numbers are squares of two consecutive integers or squares of two
consecutive even integers or squares of two consecutive odd integers.
5. The two numbers are such that they are obtained by subtracting or adding a certain number
from the squares of two related numbers.
6. The two numbers can be consecutive, even, odd or prime numbers.
Addition & Subtraction of numbers:
EXAMPLE: 246 : 12 : : 158 : 14
SOLUTION: Here, 2 + 4 + 6 = 12 and 1 + 5 + 8 = 14.
Multiplication & Division of numbers:
EXAMPLE: 4 : 20 : : 6 : 30
SOLUTION: Here, 4 × 5 = 20 and 6 × 5 = 30.

22
Squares & Cubes of numbers:
EXAMPLE: 7 : 49 : : 9 : 81
SOLUTION: Here, 72 = 49 and 92 = 81.
1.1.2 Letter Analogy: In the letter analogies, we have to find the relationship between given
letters or group of letters.

EXAMPLE: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter analogy?
RRPP : UOSM : : NRAI : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is:
As Similarly
R+3=U N+3=Q
R-3=O R- 3=O
P+3=S A+3=D
P-3=M I - 3=F
Therefore, the answer is “QODF”.
1.1.3 Word Analogy: In word analogy, we have to find the relationship between given words
in a pair.

Tool & Object based Analogy: This establishes a relationship between a tool and the object
in which it works.

EXAMPLE: Scissor : Cloth

Synonym based Analogy: In this type of analogy two words have similar meaning.
EXAMPLE: Huge : Gigantic
Worker & Tool based Analogy: This establishes a relationship between a particular tool and
the person of that particular profession who uses that tool.

EXAMPLE: Writer : Pen

Gender based Analogy: In this type of analogy, one word is masculine and another word is
feminine of it (or) It is a “male and female” (or) “gender” relationship.

EXAMPLE: Man : Woman

Quantity and Unit based Analogy: In this type of analogy 2nd word is the unit of 1st word and
vice versa.
EXAMPLE: Speed : km/hr

23
Adult & Young based Analogy: In this type of analogy, 1st word is the adult one and the 2nd
word is the young one of the 1st word or vice versa.

EXAMPLE: Cow : Calf

Instrument & Measurement based Analogy: In this type of analogy, the 1st word is the
instrument to measure the 2nd word and vice versa.

EXAMPLE: Hygrometer : Humidity

Individual & Group based Analogy: In this type of analogy, the 2nd word is the group of 1st
word and vice versa.

EXAMPLE: Cow : Herd

State & Capital based Analogy: In this type of analogy, 1st word is the state and 2nd word is
the capital of that state and vice versa.

EXAMPLE: Bihar : Patna

Worker & Work place based Analogy: In this type of analogy, the 1st word represents a
person of particular profession and 2nd word represents the working place of that person and
vice versa.

EXAMPLE: Doctor : Hospital

Study based Analogy: In this type of analogy, 1st word is the study of 2nd word and vice versa.
EXAMPLE: Birds : Ornithology

24
 PRACTICE

EXAMPLE 1: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following word analogy?
Lion : Flesh : : Cow : ?
SOLUTION: Lion eats flesh, similarly Cow eats Grass.
Therefore, the answer is “Grass”.
EXAMPLE 2: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following word analogy?
Pen : Writer : : ? : Batsman
SOLUTION: A writer uses pen to write and similarly a batsman uses Bat to play.
Therefore, the answer is “Bat”.
EXAMPLE 3: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following word analogy?
Moon : Satellite : : Earth : ?
SOLUTION: Here, Moon is a Satellite and Earth is a Planet.
Therefore, the answer is “Planet”.
EXAMPLE 4: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following word analogy?
Ottawa : Canada : : Canberra : ?
SOLUTION: Ottawa is the capital of Canada and Canberra is the capital of Australia.
Therefore, the answer is “Australia”.
EXAMPLE 5: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following word analogy?
India : Rupee : : America : ?
SOLUTION: Rupee is the currency of India and Dollar is the currency of America.
Therefore, the answer is “Dollar”.
EXAMPLE 6: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter analogy?
ACFJ : OUZJ : : SUXB : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is:
A + 14 = O, C + 18 = U
F + 20 = Z, J + 0 = J
Similarly, S + 14 = G, U + 18 = M
X + 20 = R, B + 0 = B.
Here, the answer is “GMRB”.

25
EXAMPLE 7: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter analogy?
PRLN : XZTV : : JLFH : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is:
As Similarly
P+8=X J+8=R
R+8=Z L+8=T
L+8=T F+8=N
N+8=V H+8=P
Therefore, the answer is “RTNP”.

EXAMPLE 8: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter analogy?
NCDP : ODEQ : : LOQN : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is:
As Similarly
N + 1 = O, C + 1 = D L + 1 = M, O + 1 = P
D + 1 = E, P + 1 = Q Q + 1 = R, N + 1 = O
Therefore, the answer is “MPRO”.

EXAMPLE 9: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter analogy?
CEG : EGC : : LNP : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is 2nd set EGC is formed by putting first letter of 1st set CEG at
the last. Similarly, in the 2nd group first letter L goes to last place.

Therefore, the answer is “NPL”.

EXAMPLE 10: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter analogy?
BLOCKED : YOLXPVW : : LAUNCH : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is 2nd word is formed by taking opposite letters or pair of letters
as per English alphabet. Therefore, LAUNCH pair is OZFMXS.

EXAMPLE 11: What will come in place of question mark (?) in the following letter analogy?
REASONING : TMRMLHZVI : : ARITHMETIC : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is 2nd word is formed by taking opposite letters or pair of letters
in the reverse order of as per English alphabet.

Therefore, ARITHMETIC pair is XRGVNSGRIZ.

26
EXAMPLE 12: What will come in place of question mark in the following number analogy?
8 : 28 : : 27 : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is:
8 = 23
28 = 33 + 1, Similarly, 27 = 33
Therefore, next number is 43 + 1 = 65.

EXAMPLE 13: What will come in place of question mark in the following number analogy?
123 : 132 : : 235 : ?
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is: The middle digit of 1st term becomes power to the next term.
i.e; 123 → 132
So, the answer is 235 → 253.
EXAMPLE 14: What will come in place of question mark in the following number analogy?
8 : 24 : : ? : 32
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is:
2×4=8
Similarly, 3 × 2 = 6
Therefore, the answer is 6.

EXAMPLE 15: What will come in place of question mark in the following number analogy?
68 : 130 : : ? : 350
SOLUTION: Here, the logic is:
68 = 43 + 4
130 = 53 + 5
350 = 73 + 7
Therefore, ? = 63 + 6 = 222.

27
 EXERCISE

Select the appropriate option which can fill in the blank using the correct Analogy:
1) 6 : 18 : : 4 : ?
A. 2 B. 6 C. 8 D. 16
2) 21 : 3 : : 574 : ?
A. 23 B. 82 C. 97 D. 113
3) 1 : 1 : : 25 : ?
A. 26 B. 125 C. 240 D. 625
4) 121 : 12 : : 25 : ?
A. 1 B. 2 C. 6 D. 7
5) 42 : 20 : : 64 : ?
A. 41 B. 52 C. 33 D. 44
6) 20 : 11 : : 102 : ?
A. 49 B. 52 C. 61 D. 98
7) 9 : 80 : : 100 : ?
A. 901 B. 1009 C. 9889 D. 9999
8) 11 : 24 : : 7 : ?
A. 18 B. 15 C. 22 D. 23
9) 56 : 121 : : 93 : ?
A. 36 B. 72 C. 125 D. 144
10) 92 : 49 : : 81 : ?
A. 49 B. 81 C. 64 D. 36
11) 14 : 41 : : 23 : ?
A. 25 B. 27 C. 32 D. 36
12) 3 : 18 : : 4 : ?
A. 48 B. 31 C. 44 D. 56
13) 31 : 2 : : 91 : ?
A. 10 B. 12 C. 8 D. 7
14) 35 : 711 : : 1317 : ?
A. 1719 B. 1923 C. 1932 D. 2123
15) 122 : 170 : : 290 : ?
A. 362 B. 344 C. 332 D. 313

28
16) EGIK : FILO : : FHJL : ?
A. GJMP B. GMJP C. JGMP D. JGPM
17) CAT : DDY : : BIG : ?
A. CLL B. CLM C. CML D. CEP
18) LOGIC : BHFNK : : CLERK : ?
A. XVRPA B. QBKJA C. LPRTU D. JQDKB
19) PALE : LEAP : : POSH : ?
A. HSOP B. POHS C. SHOP D. None
20) BDF : HIL : : MOQ : ?
A. XTW B. TVX C. STW D. TUW
21) KMF : LLH : : RMS : ?
A. SLR B. SLU C. SSU D. SUS
22) BYCX : DWEV : : FUGT : ?
A. EHIJ B. GHIJ C. HSIR D. SRHS
23) BUCKET : ACTVBDJLDFSU : : BONUS : ?
A. ACMNMOTVRT B. SUNOB C. ACNPMOTVRT D. ACMNMOTURT
24) AE : EI : : IO : ?
A. OV B. MS C. PM D. NT
25) EVRI : VEIR : : XWKV
A. XWVK B. WXKW C. GOQE D. CDPE
26) LN : OR : : JL : ?
A. OM B. PM C. OP D. MP
27) ALM : COQ :: BDY : ?
A. DFC B. DEC C. DGB D. DGC
28) Volume : Liter : : Area : ?
A. Degree B. Hectare C. Radian D. Newton
29) Wimbledon Trophy : Tennis : : Walker’s Cup : ?
A. Golf B. Polo C. Hockey D. Wrestling
30) Producer : Film : : Author : ?
A. Food B. Newspaper C. Book D. Poem

29
 KEY

1) D 2) B 3) D 4) C 5) B 6) B 7) D 8) A 9) D 10) A

11) C 12) A 13) C 14) B 15) A 16) A 17) A 18) D 19) C 20) C

21) B 22) C 23) C 24) B 25) D 26) D 27) D 28) B 29) A 30) C

30
 CHAPTER 4
ODD ONE OUT

1. INTRODUCTION:
Finding the odd one out from the given alternatives is a very common type of question
that one comes across in different competitive examinations. In the questions on odd man out
all the items-except one- follow a certain pattern (in their formation) or have some relationship
between them. The item that does not follow the pattern or does not belong to the group has to
be marked as the answer choice.
Odd man out concept is used to find the depth of knowledge of an individual in a given
area. For example, if a person’s knowledge in the area of social media is to be known, then we
can give a question like find the odd man out among (a)Picase (b)Youtube (c)Gmail
(d)Facebook. In the above example except Facebook, all the others are Google products and
hence the Odd man will be Facebook. Like these questions are formed in many areas.
In this type of questions, certain numbers are given, out of which all except one are
similar in some manner, while one is different and this different one is answer.
EXAMPLE: Choose the one which is different from others
(A) 275 (B) 693 (C) 341 (D)473 (E) 353
SOLUTION: The middle digit is sum of the other two. This property is not satisfied in (E).
So, the answer is 353.

In this type of question, generally five groups of letters are given. Four of them possess
similar property in some manner and one is different from others which will be the answer.
The following association of alphabets to the numbers will be helpful for some problems.

A B C DE FGHI J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

EXAMPLE: Choose the odd one

(A) MOQ (B) SUW (C) YAC (D) EGH (E) KMO

SOLUTION: All others options are having one letter difference between them. This property
is not satisfied in (D). So, the answer is EGH.

31
 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: Choose the one which is different from others

(A) Physics (B) Chemistry (C) Biology (D) Zoology (E) English

SOLUTION: Here Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Zoology deals with science but English is
not. So, the answer is English.
EXAMPLE 2: Choose the number pair which is different from others
(A) 42-4 (B) 36-6 (C) 32-2 (D)15-5
SOLUTION: The second number divides the first completely. This property is not satisfied in
(A). So, the answer is 42-4.

EXAMPLE 3: Choose the word which is least like the other words in the group.

(A) Snake (B) Lizard (C) Turtle (D) Whale (E) Crocodile

SOLUTION: Snake, lizard, turtle and crocodile are reptiles while whale is not. So, the answer
is Whale.

EXAMPLE 4: Choose the odd one

(A) JOT (B) OUT (C) FED (D) DIN (E) DOG

SOLUTION: Here OUT contains two vowels, and others have only one vowel. So, the
answer is OUT.
EXAMPLE 5: Choose the odd one

(A) YNHIA (B) SGRFI (C) ISEPU (D) FHUJU

SOLUTION: Letters U is repeated, but in others no letter is repeated. So, the answer is
FHUJU.

EXAMPLE 6: Choose the one which is different from others.

(A) 428 (B) 7856 (C) 6742 (D) 326 (E) 4126

SOLUTION: The last digit or last two digits are the product of first two digits. This property
is not satisfied in (E). So, the answer is 4126.

32
EXAMPLE 7: Choose the odd one

(A) 13-31 (B) 45-54 (C) 16-61 (D) 71-88

SOLUTION: All the pairs have digits in reverse order. This property is not satisfied in (D).
So, the answer is 71-88.
EXAMPLE 8: Find the odd one out

(A) India (B) Japan (C) New - Zealand (D) South - Africa (E) Australia

SOLUTION: Only Australia is a continent, but remaining all are countries. So, the answer is
Australia.

EXAMPLE 9: Choose the odd one

(A) 174 (B) 203 (C) 84 (D) 126 (E) 154

SOLUTION: All are multiple of 7 except (A). So, the answer is 174.

EXAMPLE 10: Choose the odd one

(A) 23-29 (B) 19-25 (C) 13-17 (D) 3-5

SOLUTION: All pairs are prime numbers except(B). So, the answer is 19-25.

EXAMPLE 11: Find the odd one out

(A) Ear (B) Eye (C) Nose (D) Throat (E) Tongue

SOLUTION: Throat is not a sense organ. So, the answer is Throat.

EXAMPLE 12: Choose the odd one

(A) ALMZ (B) BTUY (C) CPQX (D) DEFY

SOLUTION: In others first and last letters occupy the same position from the beginning and
from the end. This property is not satisfied in (D). So, the answer is DEFY.

EXAMPLE 13: Choose the odd one

(A) 48 (B) 156 (C) 183 (D) 622 (E) 435

SOLUTION: In all other options sum of digits comes out to be 12 except (D). So, the answer
is 622.

33
 EXERCISE
Find the Odd Number/Word in the following:
1. A. Curd B. Butter C. Oil D. Cheese E. Cream
2. A. Tomato B. Cucumber C. Brinjal D. Carrot E. Gourd
3. A. Trunk B. Tree C. Fruit D. Leaf E. Flower
4. A. Microscope B. Telescope C. Periscope D. Stethoscope
5. A. Fish B. Crab C. Turtle D. Shrimp E. Lizard
6. A. Uncle B. Nephew C. Brother D. Cousin E. Niece
7. A. Baghdad B. Beijing C. Delhi D. Pakistan E. Rangoon
8. A. See B. Hear C. Smell D. Taste E. Think
9. A. Shoe : Leather B. Iron : Axe C. Table : Wood D. Jewellery : Gold E. Shirt : Fabric
10. A. See : Eye B. Hear : Ears C. Smell : Nose D. Touch : Skin E. Tongue : Taste
11. A. White : Dirty B. Easy : Difficult C. Brave : Coward D. End : Beginning
12. A. Short : Long B. Crime : Blame C. Light : Heavy D. Poor : Rich
13. A. Wine : Grapes B. Paper : Pulp C. Shoes : Leather D. Wheat : Crop
14. A. CXGT B. EVBY C. DXEY D. AZDW
15. A. EDCBA B. PONML C. UTSRQ D. YXWVZ E. KJIHG
16. A. BCDEI B. PQRSW C. LMNOS D. TUVWA E. HIKLO
17. A. BFCGD B. LPMQN C. NROSP D. YCDZA
18. A. 318 B. 210 C. 630 D. 420
19. A. 34 – 43 B. 55 – 62 C. 62 – 71 D. 83 – 92
20. A. 12 – 42 B. 14 – 82 C. 23 – 64 D. 36 – 72

34
 KEY

1) C 2) D 3) B 4) D 5) E 6) D 7) D 8) E 9) B 10) E

11) A 12) B 13) D 14) C 15) D 16) E 17) D 18) A 19) B 20) D

35
 CHAPTER 5
CODING AND DECODING
1. INTRODUCTION:
CODING-DECODING is an important part of Logical reasoning section in all
aptitude related examinations. Coding is a process used to encrypt a word, a number in a
particular code or pattern based on some set of rules. Decoding is a process to decrypt the
pattern into its original form from the given codes.
There are various codes which can be used. Listed below are some of them
• Jumbling of the alphabets in a particular order
• Each alphabet is replaced by another alphabet in the alphabet series in a particular order
• Using the place-value of a given alphabet in the alphabetical series we can add or
subtract
• Using numbers to represent words

Many students find Coding-Decoding difficult to solve, and as a result, they avoid
attempting these scoring questions and end up losing some easy and quick marks. Last year
some major changes were observed in the pattern of questions related to the topic of Coding-
Decoding in various competitive exams. Hence, in this article, we are sharing some effective
tips to attempt coding and decoding questions in the upcoming Campus Placement Drives, SSC
exam, Bank exam or any other government exam.
1.1 LETTER CODING: Letter Coding In this type of questions, alphabets of a word are
replaced by some other alphabets according to specific rule to form code.
EXAMPLE 1: If EARTH is written as FCUXM in a certain code. How is MOON written in
that code?

SOLUTION:

E A R T H M O O N

+1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +1 +2 +3 +4

F C U X M N Q R R

Hence, Answer is NQRR.

36
EXAMPLE 2: If DELHI is written as EDMGJ in a certain code. How is NEPAL written in
that code?
SOLUTION:

D E L H I N E P A L

+1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1

E D M G J O D Q Z M

Hence, Answer is ODQZM.

1.2 NUMBER CODING:
Number Coding In this type of questions, a word is replaced by certain numbers
according to some specific rule. For example,

EXAMPLE 1: If ROSE is coded as 6821, CHAIR is coded as 73456, and PREACH is coded
as 961473, what will be the code for SEARCH?
SOLUTION: The alphabets are coded as shown:

RO S E CH A I P

6 8 2 1 7 3 4 5 9

So, in SEARCH,

S is coded as 2,

E as 1,

A as 4,

R as 6,

C as 7,

H as 3.

Thus, the code for SEARCH is 214673

So, Answer is 214673.

EXAMPLE 2: In a certain code, NEWYORK is written as 111, how is NEWJERSEY written

in that code?

37
SOLUTION: In NEWYORK,

N = 14, E = 5, W = 23, Y = 25, O = 15, R = 18, K = 11

Total = 14 + 5 + 23 + 25 + 15 + 18 + 11 = 111

In NEWJERSEY,

N = 14, E = 5, W = 23, J = 10, E = 5, R = 18, S = 19, E = 5, Y = 25

Total = 14 + 5 + 23 + 10 + 5 + 18 + 19 + 5 + 25 = 124.

Hence, the result is 124.

1.3 LETTER TO NUMBER CODING:

Directions (1 - 6): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given
below it:
Letters M Q I N E Y U G R
Numbers 2 5 3 7 1 8 4 6 9

Conditions apply:

1.If the first and last letters are vowels both are coded as “$”.

2. If the 2nd letter is vowel and 3rd letter is consonant a single code is to be used and both are

coded as “%”.

3. If the 1st letter is consonant and last letter is vowel both are coded as “?”.

EXAMPLE 1: ENIMY coded as?

SOLUTION: No condition is applied in the given code.

Hence, Answer is 17328.

EXAMPLE 2: GENIR coded as?

SOLUTION: Condition 2 is applied.

Hence Answer is 6%39.

EXAMPLE 3: QUERI coded as?

SOLUTION: Condition 3 is applied.

Hence, Answer is ?419?.

38
EXAMPLE 4: UIGRE coded as?

SOLUTION: Condition 1 and 2 is applied.

Hence, Answer is $%9$.

EXAMPLE 5: RUMMY coded as?

SOLUTION: Condition 2 is applied.

Hence, Answer is 9%28.

EXAMPLE 6: QUEEN coded as?

SOLUTION: No condition is applied in the given code.

Hence, Answer is 54117.

1.4 NUMBER TO LETTER CODING:

Directions (1 - 6): Study the following information carefully and answer the questions given
below it:
Digits 7 2 1 5 3 9 8 6 4
Letters W L M S I N D J B

Conditions Apply:

1. If the 1st and last digits are odd both are coded as “@”.
2. If the 1st and last digits are even both are coded as “$”.
3. If the 2nd digit is even and the 3rd digit is odd a single code is to be used
and then both are coded as “#”.

EXAMPLE 1: 184632 coded as?

SOLUTION: No condition is applied in the given code.

Hence, the Answer is MDBJIL.

EXAMPLE 2: 879341 coded as?

SOLUTION: No condition is applied in the given code.

Hence, the Answer is DWNIBM.

39
EXAMPLE 3: 64928 coded as?

SOLUTION: Conditions 2 and 3 are applied in the given code.

Hence, the Answer is $#L$.

EXAMPLE 4: 36924 coded as?

SOLUTION: Conditions 3 is applied in the given code.

Hence, the Answer is I#LB.

EXAMPLE 5: 13579 coded as?

SOLUTION: Conditions 1 is applied in the given code.

Hence, the Answer is @ISW@.

EXAMPLE 6: 24685 coded as?

SOLUTION: No conditions is applied in the given code.

Hence, the Answer is LBJDS.

1.5 LOGIC CODING:

EXAMPLE 1: If air is called green, green is called blue, blue is called sky, the sky is called

yellow, yellow is called water, and water is called pink, then what is the colour of clear sky?

SOLUTION: The colour of clear sky is 'blue' and as given, 'blue' is called 'sky'.

So, the colour of the clear sky is 'sky'.

Hence, the Answer is Sky.

EXAMPLE 2: If ‘blue’ means ‘green’, ‘green’ means ‘white’, ‘white’ means‘yellow’,

‘yellow’ Means ‘black’, ‘black’ means ‘red’, ‘red’ means ‘brown’, then what is the
colour of milk?
SOLUTION: Actually, the colour of milk is 'white'

and as given, 'green' means 'white'.

In this case considered as reverse order.

So, the colour of the milk is 'green'.

Hence, the Answer is ‘green’.

40
1.6 MIXED LETTER CODING:

EXAMPLE: I. In a certain code language,

II.'134' means 'good and tasty',

III. '478' means 'see good pictures' and

IV. '729' means 'pictures are faint'.

Which of the following digits stands for 'see'?

SOLUTION: In the first and second statements, the common code digit is '4' and the common

word is 'good'. So, '4' stands for 'good'.

In the second and third statements, the common code digit is '7' and the common

word is 'pictures'. So, '7' means 'pictures'.

Thus, in the second statement, '8' means 'see'.

Hence, the Answer is 8.

41
 PRACTICE

EXAMPLE 1: SYMBOL is written as NZTMPC is a certain code. How is NUMBER written

in that code?
SOLUTION: According to question

S Y M B O L N U M B E R

+1 +1 +1 +1

N Z T M P C N V O S F C

⸫ Answer is NVOSFC.

EXAMPLE 2: In a certain code, COMPUTER is written as PMOCRETU, how is DECIPHER

written in that code?

SOLUTION: According to question

C O M P U T E R

P M O C R E T U

Similarly,

D E C I P H E R

I C E D R E H P

⸫Answer is ICEDREHP.

42
EXAMPLE 3: In a certain code, MONKEY is written as XDJMNL. How is TIGER written in
that code?
SOLUTION: The letter of the word is written in reverse order and then each letter is moved
one step backward to obtain the code.
⸫Answer is QDFHS.

EXAMPLE 4: In a certain code, the language COMPUTER is written as RFUVQNPC. How

will MEDICINE be written in that code language?

SOLUTION: There are 8 letters in the word. The coded word can be obtained by taking the
immediately following letters of the word, except the first and the last letters of the given word
but in the reverse order. That means, in the coded form the first and the last letters have been
interchanged while the remaining letters are coded by taking their immediate next letters in the
reverse order.

⸫Answer is EOJDJEFM.

EXAMPLE 5: If FRIEND is coded as HUMJTK, how is CANDLE written in that code?

SOLUTION: The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth letters of the word are respectively

moved two, three, four, five, six, and seven steps forward to obtain the
corresponding letters of the code.

The coding follows the rule +2, +3, +4, +5, +6, +7, etc.

That means F+2=H, R+3=U, I+4=M, E+5=J, N+6=T, D+7=K, etc.

Similarly, the answer in the above code CANDLE is EDRIRL.

⸫Answer is EDRIRL.

EXAMPLE 6: If green means red, red means yellow, yellow means blue, blue means orange
and orange means green, what is the colour of a clear sky?

SOLUTION: The colour of the clean sky is 'blue' and as given, 'yellow' means 'blue'.

so, the colour of the clear sky is 'yellow'.

Hence, the Answer is Yellow.

43
EXAMPLE 7: If the wall is called a window, the window is called a door, the door is called
floor, the floor is called roof, and the roof is called a ventilator, what will a person stand on?

SOLUTION: A person will stand on the 'floor' and 'floor' is called 'roof'.

So, a person will stand on the 'roof'.

Hence, the Answer is Roof.

EXAMPLE 8: If Z = 52 and ACT = 48, then BAT will be equal to

SOLUTION: In the given code, A = 2, B = 4, C = 6...., Z = 52.

So, ACT = 2 + 6 + 40 = 48 and

BAT = 4 + 2 + 40 = 46

Hence, Answer is 46.

EXAMPLE 9: If E = 5 and READ is coded as 7, then what is the code of 'DEAR'?

SOLUTION: Here, E = 5 = 5/1 = 5

READ = 18 + 5 + 1 + 4 = 28/4 = 7

DEAR = 4 + 5 + 1 + 18 = 28/4 = 7

Hence, Answer is 7.

EXAMPLE 10: In a certain code, HARYANA is written as 8197151, how is DELHI written
in that code?

SOLUTION: We used the number of alphabets here.

H = 8; A = 1; R = 18 = 1+8 = 9; Y = 25 = 2+5 = 7; N = 14 = 1+4 = 5

For DELHI

D = 4; E = 5; L = 12 = 1+2 = 3; H = 8; I=9

Hence, DELHI is written as 45389.

Therefore, answer is 45389.

EXAMPLE 11: If DOOR = 25, LOWER=37, TOWER=18, then OVER =?

SOLUTION: Alphabets and their positions

44
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

A BCDE F GH I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Rule=add positions of alphabets and then reverse the result

DOOR = 4+15+15+18 = 52 = reverse 52 to give 25

Similarly, OVER = 15+22+5+18 = 60 = reverse 60 to give 06

Hence, Answer is 06.

EXAMPLE 12: In a certain code, DONKEY is written as CNMJDX. How is TIGER written
in that code.

SOLUTION: The letter of the word is written in forward order and then each letter is moved
one step backward to obtain the code. ⸫Answer is SHFDQ.

EXAMPLE 13: In a certain code language,

(A) ‘pit na som’ means ‘bring me water’

(B) ‘na jo tod’ means ‘water is life’

(C) ‘tub od pit’ means 'give me toy’

(D) ‘jo lin kot’ means ‘life and death’

Which of the following represents 'is' in that language?

SOLUTION: In statements A and B, the common code word is 'na' and the common word is
'water'.So, 'na' means 'water'. In statements B and D, the common code word is 'jo' and the
common word is 'life'. So, 'jo' means 'life'. Thus, in statement B, 'tod' represents 'is'.

Hence, the Answer is tod.

EXAMPLE 14: In a certain code language,

(1) '3a, 2b, 7c' means 'Truth is Eternal';

(2)'7c, 9a, 8b, 3a' means 'Enmity is not Eternal' and

(3)'9a, 4d, 2b, 8c' means 'Truth does not perish'.

Which of the following means 'enmity' in that language?

45
SOLUTION: In the second and third statements, the common code is '9a' and the common
word is 'not'. So, '9a' means 'not'.

In the first and second statements, the common codes are '7c' and '3a' and the
common

words are 'is' and 'Eternal'. So, in the second statement, '8b' means 'enmity'.

Hence, the Answer is 8b.

EXAMPLE 15: In a certain code language,

(A) ‘pit dar na’ means ‘you are good’

(B) ‘dar tok pa’ means ‘good and bad’

(C) ‘tim na tok’ means 'they are bad’

In that language, which word stands for 'they'?

SOLUTION: In the first and third statements, the common word is 'na' and the common word

is 'are'. So, 'na' means 'are'.

In the second and third statements, the common code word is 'tok' and the
common word is 'bad'.

So, 'tok' means 'bad'.

Thus, in the third statement, 'tim' stands for 'they'.

Hence, the Answer is tim.

EXAMPLE 16: In a certain code language, 'dom put ta' means 'bring hot food';

'put tir sop' means 'food is good' and

'tak da sop' means 'good bright boy'.

Which of the following does mean 'hot' in that language?

SOLUTION: We can find the code for 'food' form the first and second statements.

Now, to find the code for 'hot',

we need the code for 'bring' which cannot be determined from the given

information. Hence, the Answer is Can't be determined.

46
 EXERCISE

1. In a certain code language OPERATION is written as NODQBUJPO. How is INVISIBLE

written in that code?
A. JOWJTJCMF B. JOWJTHAKD C. HMUHTJCM F D.HMUHTHAKD
2. In a certain code FAVOUR is written as EBUPTS. How is DANGER written in that code?
A. CBFFDS B. CBMHDS C. EBFHDS D. EBHHFS
3. If SUMMER is coded as RUNNER the code for WINTER will be
A. SUITER B. VIOUER C. WALKER D. SUFFER
4. If in a certain language MADRAS is coded as NBESBT, how is BOMBAY coded in that
code?
A. CPNCBX B. CPNCBZ C. CPOCBZ D. CQOCBZ
5. In a certain code, TRIPPLE is written as SQHOOKD. How is DISPOSE written in that code?
A. CHRONRD B. DSOESPI C. ESJTPTF D. ESOPSID
6. If in a code language, COULD is written as BNTKC and MARGIN is written as LZQFHM,
how will MOULDING be written in that code?
A. CHMFINTK B. LNKTCHMF C. LNTKCHMF D. NITKHCMF
7. In a certain code, MONKEY is written as XDJMNL. How is TIGER written in that code?
A. QDFHS B. SDFHS C. SHFDQ D. UJHFS
8.In a certain code, COMPUTER is written as RFUVQNPC. How is MEDICINE written in the
same code?
A. EOJDJEFM B. EOJDEJFM C. MFEJDJOE D. MFEDJJOE
9.In a certain code the word PRODUCTIONS is written as QQPCVEUHPMT. How is
ORIENTATION written in that code?
A. PQJDOVBSJNO B. PQJDOUBUJPO C. PSJFOVBSJNO D. NSHFMVBSJNO
10.In a certain code MIND becomes KGLB and ARGUE becomes YPESC then what will
DIAGRAM be in that code?
A. BGYEPYK B. BGYPYEK C.GLPEYKB D.LKBGYPK
11.In a certain code BASIC is written DDULE. How is LEADER written in that code?
A. NGCFGT B.NHCGGU C.OGDFHT D. OHDGHU
12.In a certain code SIGHT is written as FVTUG. How is REVEAL written in the same
language?
A. YNRIRE B.DQHQMX C. FSJSOZ D.ERIRNY

47
13.In a certain language MIRACLE is coded as NKUEHRL, then how is GAMBLE coded in
that language?
A. JDOCMF B. CLEMNK C. HCPFQK D. AELGMN
Directions (14-17): In a secret way of writing INDIA HAS WON FIRST GOLD MEDAL is
written as JFZJU OUV SEF PJDVB REQZ ITZUQ. Bearing the method in mind pick up the
code from the answer choices for each given word
14. FOOT
A. BEEB B. CEEA C. PEEB D. SEEZ
15. DIESEL
A. ZJTVTQ B. ZJTQVT C. ZJEVTQ D. BZTETV
16. WOOD
A. BEEZ B. ZEES C. LEEB D. SEEZ
17. TAILOR
A. ZUTQED B. BUJQED C. SUTQED D. BUTQEP
18. In a certain code language if the word CREATIVE is coded as TIVECREA then how is the
word ACTION coded in that language
A. NOCIAT B. NOIACT C. NOAICT D. IONACT
19. If the word FOCUS is coded as TVDPG then how will LIGHT be written?
A. UIHJM B. UHIJM C. UIJHM D. None
20.In a certain code language if CLASSIC is written as XOZHHRX then how will NEGLECT
be written?
A. MVTOVXG B. DLPZLHP C. DLSKFFH D. DLPLZHP
21. if in a certain code language 42 + 60 = 36 and 79 + 28 = 160,
then what is the value of 249 + 63
A. 369 B. 162 C. 135 D. none of the above
Directions (22-24): Based on the code language, MARKET = A13 A1 B9 A11 E1 D5.
22. Using the code, how would you code the word, CROWN
A. A3C6E3A23B8 B. A3C6E3A23B6 C. C1B9E3A23B7 D. none
23. Using the code, how would you code the word, INDIAN
A. C3B7B2C3A1B7 B. C3B7D2C3A1B7 C. C3B7B2E3A1B7 D. none
24. Using the code, how would you code the word, LIFE
A. B3C3F1E1 B. D3C3B3A5 C. C9I1F1E1 D. none

48
 KEY

1) C 2) B 3) B 4) B 5) A 6) C 7) A 8) A 9) A 10) A

11) B 12) D 13) C 14) C 15) A 16) D 17) B 18) D 19) A 20) A

21) C 22) C 23) A 24) B

49
 CHAPTER 6
LOGICAL SEQUENCE OF WORDS
1. INTRODUCTION:
Logical sequence of words as the name implies is that type of reasoning which consists
of words and we have to find out a sequence which is logical in that context. Normally, in these
questions, the words are mentioned in serial numbers 1, 2, 3 etc.
There should be a minimum of four words to ensure the complexity of the question.
There are is no limit to the maximum serial of numbers. There are some questions in which
numbers even range to eight or nine options. But such types of questions are very rare. So,
generally, maximum of six options are provided in a logical sequence of words.
In each of the following questions, arrange the given words in a meaningful sequence
and thus find the correct answer from alternatives.

EXAMPLE 1: Arrange the following in a logical order

1. Birth 2. Death 3. Funeral 4. Marriage 5. Education

(a) 1 3 4 5 2 (b) 1 5 4 2 3 (c) 2 3 4 5 1 (d) 4 5 3 1 2

SOLUTION: Clearly, the given words when arranged in the order of various events as they
occur in man’s life, term the sequence: Birth — Education — Marriage — Death — Funeral.
So, the correct order becomes 1 5 4 2 3.

EXAMPLE 2: In each of the following question, a group of letters is given which are
numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Below are given four alternatives containing combinations of
these numbers. Select that combination of numbers so that letters arranged accordingly form a
meaningful word.

T L P N A E

1 2 3 4 5 6

(a) 3 2 5 4 6 1 (b) 3 2 5 4 1 6 (c) 4 5 3 6 2 1 (d) 4 6 1 3 5 2

SOLUTION: The correct combination of these words is "PLANET".

The order is 3 2 5 4 6 1.

50
 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: Arrange the following in a logical order

1. Probation 2. Interview 3. Selection 4. Appointment 5. Advertisement 6. Application

(a) 5 6 2 3 4 1 (b) 5 6 3 2 4 1 (c) 5 6 4 2 3 1 (d) 6 5 4 2 3 1

SOLUTION: The correct sequence is Advertisement — Application — Interview — Selection

— Appointment — Probation. So the correct order becomes 5 6 2 3 4 1.

EXAMPLE 2: Arrange the following in a logical order

1. Line 2. Angle 3. Square 4. Triangle

(a) 2 1 4 3 (b) 3 4 1 2 (c) 4 2 1 3 (d) 1 2 4 3

SOLUTION: Clearly, the given words when arranged in the order: Line — Angle — Triangle

— Square. So, the correct order becomes 1 2 4 3.

EXAMPLE 3: Arrange the following in a logical order

1. Childhood 2. Adulthood 3. Infancy 4. Adolescence 5. Babyhood

(a) 4 1 3 2 5 (b) 3 5 1 4 2 (c) 2 5 1 4 3 (d) 5 4 2 3 1

SOLUTION: Clearly, the given words when arranged in the order: Infancy — Babyhood —

Childhood — Adolescence — Adulthood. So, the correct order becomes 3 5 1 4 2.

EXAMPLE 4: Arrange the following words as per order in the dictionary

1. Noble 2. Nobilitary 3. Noblesses 4. Nobility 5. Nobble

(a) 1 4 3 2 5 (b) 3 4 1 2 5 (c) 5 2 4 1 3 (d) 2 4 3 5 1

SOLUTION: The correct sequence is Nobble — Nobilitary — Nobility — Noble —

Noblesses. The order is 5 2 4 1 3.
EXAMPLE 5: Arrange the following words as per order in the dictionary

1. Pick 2. Pith 3. Pile 4. Perk 5. Pour

(a) 4 1 2 3 5 (b) 4 1 3 2 5 (c) 4 3 2 1 5 (d) 5 4 3 2 1

51
SOLUTION: The correct sequence is Perk — Pick — Pile — Pith — Pour.
The order is 4 1 3 2 5.

EXAMPLE 6: Arrange the following words as per order in the dictionary

1. Infricate 2. Interview 3. Intransigent 4. Interrogation 5. Intravenous

(a) 2 4 5 3 1 (b) 5 3 1 2 4 (c) 1 4 2 3 5 (d) 3 5 2 1 4

SOLUTION: The correct sequence is Infricate — Interrogation — Interview — Intransigent

— Intravenous. The order is 1 4 2 3 5.

EXAMPLE 7: Arrange the following words as per order in the dictionary

1. Preposition 2. Preparatively 3. Preposterous 4. Preponderate 5. Prepossess

(a) 2 4 1 5 3 (b) 1 5 2 4 3 (c) 5 4 2 3 1 (d) 4 2 5 1 3

SOLUTION: The correct sequence is Preparatively — Preponderate — Preposition —

Prepossess — Preposterous. The order is 2 4 1 5 3.

EXAMPLE 8: Arrange the following words in their descending order

1. Weekly 2. Bi-annual 3. Fortnightly 4. Monthly 5. Annual

(a) 1 3 4 2 5 (b) 2 5 4 1 3 (c) 4 1 2 3 5 (d) 5 2 4 3 1

SOLUTION: The correct sequence is Annual-1 year — Bi-annual-6 months — Monthly-30

days — Fortnightly-15 days — weekly-7 days. The order is 5 2 4 3 1.

EXAMPLE 9: In each of the following question*, a group of letters is given which are
numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Below are given four alternatives containing combinations of
these numbers. Select that combination of numbers so that letters arranged accordingly form a
meaningful word.

I N L A S G

1 2 3 4 5 6

(a) 6 1 3 5 4 2 (b) 5 1 6 2 4 3 (c) 3 4 6 1 2 5 (d) 2 4 3 6 1 5

SOLUTION: The correct combination of these words is "SIGNAL". The order is 5 1 6 2 4 3.

52
 EXERCISE

1. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.

1. Never 2. Sometimes 3. Generally 4. Seldom 5. Always
A. 5, 2, 1, 3, 4 B. 5, 2, 4, 3, 1 C. 5, 3, 2, 1, 4 D. 5, 3, 2, 4, 1
2. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Index 2. Contents 3. Title 4. Chapters 5. Introduction
A. 2, 3, 4, 5, 1 B. 3, 2, 5, 1, 4 C. 3, 2, 5, 4, 1 D. 5, 1, 4, 2, 3
3. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Income 2. Status 3. Education 4. Well-being 5. Job
A. 1, 2, 5, 3, 4 B. 1, 3, 2, 5, 4 C. 3, 1, 5, 2, 4 D. 3, 5, 1, 2, 4
4. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Table 2. Tree 3. Wood 4. Seed 5. Plant
A. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 B. 1, 3, 2, 4, 5 C. 4, 5, 2, 3, 1 D. 4, 5, 3, 2, 1
5. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Windows 2. Walls 3. Floor 4. Foundation 5. Roof 6. Room
A. 4, 1, 5, 6, 2, 3 B. 4, 2, 1, 5, 3, 6 C. 4, 3, 5, 6, 2, 1 D. 4, 5, 3, 2, 1, 6
6. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Presentation 2. Recommendation 3. Arrival 4. Discussion 5. Introduction
A. 3, 5, 1, 4, 2 B. 3, 5, 4, 2, 1 C. 5, 3, 1, 2, 4 D. 5, 3, 4, 1, 2
7. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Butterfly 2. Cocoon 3. Egg 4. Worm
A. 1, 3, 4, 2 B. 1, 4, 3, 2 C. 2, 4, 1, 3 D. 3, 4, 2, 1
8. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Rain 2. Monsoon 3. Rescue 4. Flood 5. Shelter 6. Relief
A. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 B. 1, 2, 4, 5, 3, 6 C. 2, 1, 4, 3, 5, 6 D. 4, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
9. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Milky way 2. Sun 3. Moon 4. Earth 5. Stars
A. 1, 4, 3, 2, 5 B. 2, 3, 4, 5, 1 C. 3, 4, 2, 5, 1 D. 4, 3, 2, 5, 1
10. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Foetus 2. Child 3. Baby 4. Adult 5. Youth
A. 1, 2,4, 3, 5 B. 1,3,2,5,4 C. 2, 3, 5, 4, 1 D. 5, 4, 2, 3, 1
11. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Sea 2. Rivulet 3. Ocean 4. River 5. Glacier
53
 A. 5, 2, 1, 3, 4 B. 5, 2, 4, 1, 3 C. 5, 4, 2, 3, 1 D. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
12. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Doctor 2. Fever 3. Prescribe 4. Diagnose 5. Medicine
A. 1, 4, 3, 2, 5 B. 2, 1, 3, 4, 5 C. 2, 1, 4, 3, 5 D. 2, 4, 3, 5, 1
13. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. College 2. Child 3. Salary 4. School 5. Employment
A. 1, 2, 4, 3, 5 B. 2, 4, 1, 5, 3 C. 4, 1, 3, 5, 2 D. 5, 3, 2, 1, 4
14. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Hecto 2. Centi 3. Deca 4. Kilo 5. Deci
A. 1, 3, 4, 5, 2 B. 1, 5, 3, 4, 2 C. 2, 5, 3, 1, 4 D. 5, 2, 1, 4, 3
15. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Honey 2. Flower 3. Bee 4. Wax
A. 1, 3, 4, 2 B. 2, 1, 4, 3 C. 2, 3, 1, 4 D. 4, 3, 2, 1
16. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Probation 2. Interview 3. Selection 4. Appointment 5. Advertisement 6. Application
A. 5, 6, 2, 3, 4, 1 B. 5, 6, 3, 2, 4, 1 C. 5, 6, 4, 2, 3, 1 D. 6, 5, 4, 2, 3, 1
17. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Country 2. Furniture 3. Forest 4. Wood 5. Trees
A. 1, 3, 5, 4, 2 B. 1, 4, 3, 2, 5 C. 2, 4, 3, 1, 5 D. 5, 2, 3, 1, 4
18. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Site 2. Plan 3. Rent 4. Money 5. Building 6. Construction
A. 1, 2, 3, 6, 5, 4 B. 2, 3, 6, 5, 1, 4 C. 3, 4, 2, 6, 5, 1 D. 4, 1, 2, 6, 5, 3
19. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Key 2. Door 3. Lock 4. Room 5. Switch on
A. 1, 2, 3, 5, 4 B. 1, 3, 2, 4, 5 C. 4, 2, 1, 5, 3 D. 5, 1, 2, 4, 3
20. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. District 2. Village 3. State 4. Town 5. City
A. 2, 4, 1, 5, 3 B. 2, 1, 4, 5, 3 C. 5, 3, 2, 1, 4 D. 2, 5, 3, 4, 1
21. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Rainbow 2. Rain 3. Sun 4. Happy 5. Child
A. 2, 1, 4, 3, 5 B. 2, 3, 1, 5, 4 C. 4, 2, 3, 5, 1 D. 4, 5, 1, 2, 3
22. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Sentence 2. Chapter 3. Letter 4. Book 5. Word 6. Paragraph
A. 4, 2, 1, 6, 5, 3 B. 4, 2, 6, 1, 5, 3 C. 4, 6, 1, 2, 3, 5 D. 4, 6, 2, 5, 1, 3

54
23. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Cutting 2. Dish 3. Vegetable 4. Market 5. Cooking
A. 1, 2, 4, 5, 3 B. 3, 2, 5, 1, 4 C. 4, 3, 1, 5, 2 D. 5, 3, 2, 1, 4
24. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Elephant 2. Cat 3. Mosquito 4. Tiger 5. Whale
A. 1, 3, 5, 4, 2 B. 2, 5, 1, 4, 3 C. 3, 2, 4, 1, 5 D. 5, 3, 1, 2, 4
25. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Cut 2. Put on 3. Mark 4. Measure 5. Tailor
A. 1, 3, 2, 4, 5 B. 2, 4, 3, 1, 5 C. 3, 1, 5, 4, 2 D. 4, 3, 1, 5, 2
26. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Leaf 2. Fruit 3. Stem 4. Root 5. Flower
A. 3, 4, 5, 1, 2 B. 4, 1, 3, 5, 2 C. 4, 3, 1, 2, 5 D. 4, 3, 1, 5, 2
27. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Police 2. Punishment 3. Crime 4. Justice 5. Judgement
A. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 B. 3, 1, 2, 4, 5 C. 3, 1, 4, 5, 2 D. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
28. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Patient 2. Diagnosis 3. Bill 4. Doctor 5. Treatment
A. 1, 4, 2, 3, 5 B. 1, 4, 3, 2, 5 C. 1, 4, 2, 5, 3 D. 4, 1, 2, 3, 5
29. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Universe 3. Tirupati 4. World 5. India
A. 1, 5, 3, 2, 4 B. 2, 1, 3, 5, 4 C. 3, 1, 5, 4, 2 D. 5, 4, 2, 1, 3
30. Arrange the words given below in a meaningful sequence.
1. Study 2. Job 3. Examination 4. Earn 5. Apply
A. 1, 3, 2, 5, 4 B. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 C. 1, 3, 5, 2, 4 D. 1, 3, 5, 4, 2

55
 KEY

1) D 2) C 3) D 4) C 5) B 6) A 7) D 8) C 9) C 10) B

11) B 12) C 13) B 14) C 15) C 16) A 17) A 18) D 19) B 20) A

21) B 22) B 23) C 24) C 25) D 26) D 27) C 28) C 29) C 30) C

56
 CHAPTER 7
NUMBER, SEQUENCE AND ALPHABET TEST
1. INTRODUCTION:
Here, we require to understand the position of letters in English alphabet, detection of
the rule in which letters are arranged and finding a letter or number following a particular rule
in alpha-numeric sequence etc.,

1.1 Important formulae to find the position of a letter in English alphabet are:

1. nth letter to the left of mth letter from right end = (m + n)th letter from the right end.

2. nth letter to the right of mth letter from left end = (m + n)th letter from the left end.

3. nth letter to the left of mth letter from left end = (m -n)th letter from the left end.

4. nth letter to the right of mth letter from right end = (m – n)th letter from the right end.

5. Total number of letters between mth letter from left and nth letter from right = 26 – (Position
of mth letter + Position of nth letter).

1.2 Important terms related to alphabet test are as follows:

Original order of English alphabet series is,

1. A, E, I, O and U are the vowels of English alphabet and remaining letters are consonants.

2. A to M letters are called first half of English alphabet.

3. N to Z letters are called the second half of English alphabet.

1.3 Important Points to Remember:

We know that there are 26 letters in the English alphabet but to solve the questions related to
it, we should have knowledge of the number position of letters in the alphabet.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

A BCDE F GH I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1.4 To write the alphabet in reverse order:

Original Order: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

57
Reverse Order: Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F E D C B A

Thus we see the left hand side of original order becomes right hand side of the reverse order
and vice- versa.

1.5 To write the first half of the alphabet in reverse order:

As there 26 letters in all in the alphabet. Hence each of the two parts will contain 13 letters.

1.5.1 First half of the alphabet is from A to M:

Original Order – A B C D E F G H I J K L M

Reverse Order – M L K J I H G F E D C B A

1.5.2 Second half of the alphabet is from N to Z:

Original Order – N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Reverse order – Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N

1.6 Some important points:

1. Vowels - A, E, I, O, U and Vowels are represented as small “V” (v).

2. Consonants - All letters except vowels and Consonants are represented as Small “C” (c).

3. Numbers - l, 2, 3, 4 etc.…... and Numbers are represented as small “N” (n).(

4. Symbols -! @ # S % etc. ……...and symbols are represented as small “S” (s).

In whole chapter we will using these four points by applying some different conditions.

1.7 Some twisted terms to solve the questions:

1. A precedes B means A will left to B (i.e., AB)

2. B is preceded by A. It also means that A will be left to B. (i.e., AB)

3. B follows A means B will right to A (i.e., AB)

4. A is followed by B. It also means that B will right to A (i.e., AB)

58
 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: Arrange the given words in alphabetical order and tick the one that comes First.

(a)Cloud (b)Middle (c)Grunt (d)Mob (e)Chain

SOLUTION: (e): By arranging in alphabetical order: Chain, Cloud, Grunt, Middle, Mob.

Clearly, the first word is ‘Chain’.

EXAMPLE 2: Arrange the given words in alphabetical order and tick the one that comes Last.

(a)Abandon (b)Actuate (c)Accumulate (d)Acquit (e)Achieve

SOLUTION: (b): By arranging in alphabetical order: Abandon, Accumulate, Achieve, Acquit,

Actuate. Clearly, "Actuate" comes last.

WORD FORMATION USING LETTERS OF A GIVEN WORD:

Here, given a word, at that we use the letters and have to form another possible
meaningful words. Some of the examples are as follows,

EXAMPLE 1: If it is possible to make a meaningful word from the second, the seventh, the
ninth and the eleventh letters of the word ORGANISATION using each letter only once, then
which will be the third letter of that word?

(a)R (b)S (c)T (d)M

SOLUTION: (a): The second, seventh, ninth and eleventh letters of the word
ORGANISATION are R, S, T and O respectively. Clearly, only one word can be formed using
these letters, which is ‘SORT’. The third letter of SORT is ‘R’.

EXAMPLE 2: If the letters of the word ARTICULATES can be used as many times as one
wants to use, then which one of the following four words cannot be formed?

(a)COURTS (b)LATER (c)ELECTRIC (d)ARTICLE

SOLUTION: (a): Clearly, the word ARTICULATES does not contain the letter O’ and such,
the word COURTS cannot be formed.

59
LETTER REARRANGEMENT:

EXAMPLE 1: By exchanging the 1st and 3rd and 2nd and 4th, 5th and 7th letters in the given
word CONGREGATION, Find the 10th letter from right at new formed word.
SOLUTION: Given the word, CONGREGATION

New word, NGCOGAREONTI. Then 10th letter is C from the right.

EXAMPLE 2: By using 3rd, 6th, 8th and 11th letters from the word COMPUTERISE, how many
meaningful words can be formed?

SOLUTION: Given word:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

COMPUT ER I S E

The letters at the places of 3rd, 6th, 8th and 11th are, M, T, R and E respectively.

By using the above letters, we can write a meaningful word as TERM.

So, the answer is one.

LETTER PAIRS PROBLEMS:

Here, we have to find that how many pairs of letters are there in the given word, that
which have as many letters between them in the word as there are between them in the alphabet
and in the same order etc., Some examples are as follows.

EXAMPLE 1: How many pair of letters is there in the word 'SOUTHERN’ as in the alphabet?

SOLUTION: Given word, SOUTHERN

In the above word it has two pairs of letters, those are, SU and TU.

So, the answer is two.

EXAMPLE 2: How many pairs are there in the word STREAMING as in the alphabet?

SOLUTION: Given word, STREAMING

In the above word it has three pairs of letters, those are, ST, GI, NT.

So, the answer is three.

60
EXAMPLE 3: How many pairs of letters are there in the word ‘NECESSARY’ which have as
many letters between them in the word as there are between them in the alphabet and in the
same order?

(a)One (b)Two (c)Three (d)Nill (e)Four

SOLUTION: (a): Clearly, such a letter pair is ‘N’ and ‘S’, In the word ‘NECESSARY’, they
have four letters between them, i.c., E, C. E and S. In alphabet too, ‘N’ and ‘S’ have four letters
between them, i.e., O, P, Q and R. Since there is one pair.

LETTER-WORD PROBLEMS:

EXAMPLE 1: If the letters in the word ‘POWERFUL’ are rearranged as they appear in the
English alphabet, the position of how many letters will remain unchanged after the
rearrangement?

(a)None (b)One (c)Two (d)Three (e)More than three

SOLUTION: (b): By arranging the given word in alphabetical order: EFLOPRUW.

Clearly, the position of letter ‘U’ remains unchanged.

FINDING A PARTICULAR LETTER IN ENGLISH ALPHABET:

Here, we have to find out the letter at a specific position with respect to another letter
in the English alphabetical order.

EXAMPLE 1: Find the 11th letter to the left of 20th letter from the left in the English alphabet.

(a)D (b)J (c)K (d)I

SOLUTION: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

ABCDE F GHI J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Here using the formula, both are left, it will be considered as subtraction.

i.e., (20th letter - 11th letter) from the left means 9th letter from the left of English

alphabet. So, the 9th letter from the left of English alphabet is ‘I’.

Therefore, the 11th letter to the left of the 20th letter from the left is I.

61
EXAMPLE 2: If English alphabet is written in backward order, then what will be the 13th
letter to the left of the 3rd letter from the right?

(a)P (b)N (c)R (d)Q

SOLUTION: Let Backward order is written as

26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Z Y X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J I H G F ED C B A

Here using the formula, one is left and other one is right, it will be considered as addition. i.e.,
(13th letter + 3rd letter) from the right means 16th letter from the right of English alphabet.

So, the 16th letter from the right of English alphabet is ‘P’. Therefore, the 13th letter to the left
of the 3rd letter from the right is P.

EXAMPLE 3: Study the following arrangement carefully and answer the question given
below:

6 R 0 T 4 A 8 % B F 1 E # W @ 9 H I S M N * 3 2 V $ 5 G P 7 Q.

Which of the following is the fourth to left of the twelfth from the left end?

SOLUTION: According to question, both are left means considered as left. That is (12-4) is
equal to 8th from the left. So, the required element is %.

EXAMPLE 4: Study the following arrangement carefully to answer the questions given
below:
7, 2, 6, 3, 7, 5, 6, 4, 2, 9, 6, 1, 3, 4, 1, 6, 3, 9, 1, 5, 6, 9, 2, 3, 1, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 9, 6, 7, 1, 6, 3

HOW many 6's are there in the above series, each of which is immediately preceded by 1 or 5
and immediately followed by 3 or 9?

(a) None (b) One (c) Two (d) Three

SOLUTION: If you clearly observe the above sequence,

Three are followed by 163, 569, 163 in the above sequence. So, the answer is Three.

62
 EXERCISE

Directions (1-2): The following questions are based on the five three-digit numbers given
below:
684 512 437 385 296
1. If all the digits in each of the numbers are arranged in descending order within the number,
which of the following will be the highest number in the new arrangement of numbers?
A. 684 B. 385 C. 296 D. 437 E. None
2. If 1 is added to the first digit and 2 is added to the last digit of each of the numbers then
which of the following numbers will be second highest number?
A. 385 B. 684 C. 437 D. 296 E. 512

3. How many meaningful words can be formed from the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 8th letter of the word

'CONTROVERSIAL'?

A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

4. What will be the 6th letter to left of the 12th letter from the left in the English Alphabet?

A. D B. F C. R D. T

5. What will be the 6th letter to the right of the 5th letter from the left in the English Alphabet?

A. K B. G C. F D. S

6. Which letter is 10th to the right of the 15th letter to the right of the English alphabet?

A. S B. T C. V D. U

7. Which letter is 9th to the left of the 7th letter to the right of the English alphabet?

A. L B. K C. N D. H

8. How many pairs of letters are there in the word of 'DREAMLAND' which have as many
letters between them as in the English alphabet?

A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4

9. From the given alternatives select the word which cannot be formed using the letters the
given word HALLUCINATION

63
 A. LION B. LOAN C. NATION D. LOTION

10. From the given alternatives select the word which cannot be formed using the letters the
given Word DETERMINATION

A. DETENTION B. DESTINATION C. TERMINATE D. DOMINANT

11. Based on English alphabet A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Which letter is 14th to the right of 6th letter from the left in the English alphabet?

A. R B. P C. W D. T

12. Following question is based on English alphabet

ABCDEFGHI JK LMN OP QRSTUVWX YZ

Which letter is between midway of 8th letter from left and 7th letter from right in the English

alphabet?

A. N B. M C. P D. O

13. Based on English alphabet A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

If the English alphabet is written in backward order, then which letter will be 5th to the left of

letter M?

A. G B. H C. S D. R

14. Based on English alphabet A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

If English alphabet is written in the backward order, then which letter is 7th to the right of K?

A. A B. B C. S D. D

15. Based on English alphabet A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

If the English alphabet is written in reverse order, then which letter is 7th to the left of 11th Letter
from the right?

A. W B. H C. R D. D

64
16. If each vowel in the word HABITUAL is changed to the next letter in the English alphabet
and each consonant is changed to the previous letter in the English alphabet, which of the
following will be fourth from the left?

A. A B. S C. J D. H

17. Following question is based on English alphabet

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

If first 6 letters shall be written in opposite order, then the next 6 letters shall be written in

opposite order and so on, and at the end Y will be interchanged by Z then which will be
fourth letter to the right of 13th letter from left?

A. J B. H C. I D. N

18. If it is possible to make only one meaningful English word with the second, the third, the
seventh and the eight letters of the word STEADFAST, which of the following will be the
second letter of that word? If no such word can be formed, give ‘X’ as the answer and if more
than one such word can be formed, give ‘Y’ as the answer.

A. E B. A C. T D. Y

19. Study the following arrangement carefully and answer the questions given below:

R E 5 D A P $ 3 t I q 7 9 B # 2 K % U 1 M W 4 * J 8 N.

Which of the following is exactly in the middle between 3 and 1 in the above arrangement?

A. B B. R C. # D. U

20. Study the following arrangement given below:

8CM@N£T2Y6SaQ$7*W#Z3UE%A4

How many symbols are there in the above series each of which is immediately preceded and

immediately followed by a vowel?

A. Nil B. One C. Two D. Three

65
 KEY

1) C 2) E 3) B 4) B 5) A 6) C 7) B 8) D 9) D 10) B

11) D 12) A 13) D 14) D 15) C 16) D 17) D 18) C 19) A 20) B

66
 CHAPTER 8
RANKING TEST
1. INTRODUCTION:

Ranking is the concept of the rank Of a particular person or a thing In a vertical or

horizontal arrangement. In this topic. the data related to rank / position of a person/persons
from right side/top/bottom is given and the total number of persons is to calculate. In some
cases, the total number of person are given and rank of the person from left side / right side /
top / bottom is determined. Some determined types of ways can be formed based on the rank
position of the person in a row.

1.1 Ranking is classified into two types. They are

1.1.1 Horizontal Ranking (Left, Right)

1.1.2 Vertical Ranking (Top, Bottom)

1.2 In this Ranking divided into different models. They are

1.2.1 When the one person is present in the row.

1.2.2 Concept of between in the row.

1.2.3 Concept of Exactly between in the row.

1.2.4 Concept of Shifting the position in the row.

1.2.5 Concept of Interchanging the position in the row.

1.3 Some points to be remembered:

i. Total strength = Top + Bottom – 1

ii. Total strength = Left + Right - 1

67
 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: Ankit ranks sixteenth from the top and fifteenth from the bottom in certain
exam. How many students are there in his class?

SOLUTION: Total number of students in the class = {(Rank of Ankit from the top + Rank of
Ankit from bottom) - 1} = (16 + 15) - 1 = 31 – 1 = 30

EXAMPLE 2: Mena ranks third from the top and total number of students in the class are 25.
Then find the rank of Meena from the bottom?

SOLUTION: You know that Total number of students = {(Top + Bottom) - l}

25 = (3 + Bottom) - 1

So, rank of Meena from the bottom = 26 - 3 = 23rd from the bottom.

EXAMPLE 3: In a row of 21 girls. When Meena was shifted by four places towards the right,
she became 12th from the left end. what was her earlier position from the right
end of the row?

SOLUTION: According to the question. Meena was shifted 4 places rightward. Therefore,
earlier position of Meena was (12 – 4) = 8th from the left. Again, there are 21 students in all.

Hence Meena's position from the right end = (21 – 8 + 1) = 14th from the right

end. Clearly, Meena's earlier position was 14th from the right end.

EXAMPLE 4: If you are 9th person in a queue starting from one end and 11th from another

end, what is the number of persons in the queue?

SOLUTION: Number of persons in the queue = 9 + 11 – 1= 19.

EXAMPLE 5: In a row of boys, if A who is 10th from the left and B who is 9th from the right
inter change their positions, A becomes 15th from left. How many boys are there in the row?

SOLUTION: According to question A is 9th from the right end and 15th from the left end.

Therefore, total number of boys in the row = 9 + 15 – 1 = 23

68
EXAMPLE 6: In a row of 16 girls, when Hema was shifted by two places towards the left
become 7th from the left end. What was her earlier position from the right end?

SOLUTION: The original position of Hema from the left = 9th

Therefore, her position from right = 16 – 9 + 1 = 8th

EXAMPLE 7: In a line of children, Kailash is fifth from the left and Mona is 6th from the
right. When they interchange their positions. Kailash becomes 13th from the left. Then what
will be the position of Mona from the right?

SOLUTION: Total no. of children = 13 + 6 – 1 = 18

Therefore, position of Mona from the right end is 14th.

EXAMPLE 8: In a line of boys who are facing the north, the position of Sudha is 12th from
the left. When he shifts 4 Places then his position is 18th from the right is total number of the
boys in the line?

SOLUTION: Total number of boys in the class = 12 + 14 + 18 – 1 = 33

EXAMPLE 9: In a row of girls, if A who is 10th from the left and B who is 9th from the right
inter change their positions, A becomes 15th from left. How many girls are there in the row?

SOLUTION: According to question A is 9th from the right end and 15tgh from the left end.

Therefore, total number of girls in the row = 9 + 15 – 1 = 23

EXAMPLE 10: In the row of 40 boys. Rahul is 11th from the bottom so what is his rank from
top?

SOLUTION: 40 = Top + 11 – 1

Top = 30th

69
 EXERCISE

1. Sam ranked ninth from the top and thirty –eighth from the bottom in a class. How many
students are there in the class?

A. 43 B. 44 C. 45 D. 46
2. A class of boys stands in a single line. One boy is nineteenth in order from both the ends.
How many boys are there in the class?

A. 35 B. 37 C. 36 D. 38
3. Ajay ranked sixteenth from the top and twenty-ninth from the bottom among those who
passed an examination. Six boys did not participate in the competition and five failed in it.
How many boys were there in the class?

A. 53 B. 54 C. 55 D. 56
4. If Atul finds that he is twelfth from the right in a line of boys and fourth from the left, how
many boys should be added to the line such that there are 28 boys in the line?

A. 13 B. 14 C. 15 D. 16
5. In a row of boys, Jeevan is seventh from the start and eleventh from the end. In another row
of boys, Vikas is tenth from the start and twelfth from the end. How many boys are there in
both the rows together?

A. 33 B. 38 C. 34 D. 36
6. Nitin ranks eighteenth in a class of 49 students. What is his rank from the last?
A. 33 B. 34 C. 35 D. 32
7. In a class of 60, where girls are twice that of boys, Kamal ranked seventeenth from the top.
If there are 9 girls ahead of Kamal, how many boys are after him in rank?

A. 13 B. 12 C. 15 D. 16
8. Manoj and Sachin are ranked seventh and eleventh respectively from the top in a class of 31
students. What will be their respective ranks from the bottom in the class?

A. 25, 21 B. 24, 21 C. 25, 22 D. 26, 22

9. Ravi is 7 ranks ahead of Sumit in a class of 39. If Sumit’s rank is seventeenth from the last,
what is Ravi’s rank from the start?

70
 A. 15 B. 17 C. 16 D. 18
10. In a row of boys, A is thirteenth from the left and D is seventeenth from the right. If in this
row A is eleventh from the right then what is the position of D from the left?

A. 7 B. 9 C. 10 D. 8
11. Rajan is sixth from the left end and Vinay is tenth from the right end in a row of boys. If
there are eight boys between Rajan and Vinay, how many boys are there in the row?

A. 23 B. 24 C. 25 D. 26
12. In a row of boys, A is fifteenth from the left and B is fourth from the right. There are three
boys between A and B. C is immediate left of A. what is C’s position from the right?

A. 7 B. 8 C. 9 D. 6
13. George is fifth from the left and Peter is twelfth from the right end in a row of children. If
Peter shifts by three places towards George, he becomes tenth from the left end. How many
children are there in the row?

A. 23 B. 24 C. 25 D. 26
14. In a row of 21 girls, when Monika was shifted by four places towards the right, she became
12th from the left end. What was her earlier position from the right end of the row?

A. 13 B. 14 C. 15 D. 16
15. In a queue, A is eighteenth from the front while B is sixteenth from the back. If C is twenty-
fifth from the front and is exactly in the middle of A and B, then how many persons are there
in the queue?

A. 47 B. 44 C. 45 D. 46
16. In a class of 35 students, Kunal is placed seventh from the bottom whereas Sonali is placed
ninth from the top. Pulkit is placed exactly in between the two. What is Kunal’s position from
Pulkit?

A. 13 B. 14 C. 9 D. 10
17. N ranks fifth in a class. S is eighth from the last. If T is sixth after N and just in the middle
of N and S, then how many students are there in the class?

A. 23 B. 24 C. 25 D. 26

71
 KEY

1) D 2) B 3) C 4) A 5) B 6) D 7) B 8) A 9) C 10) A

11) B 12) C 13) B 14) B 15) A 16) D 17) D

72
 CHAPTER 9
BLOOD RELATIONS
1. INTRODUCTION:
In this test, the success of a candidate depends upon his/her knowledge of blood
relations, some of which are summarized below to help solve these tests.

Mother’s or father’s son Brother

Mother’s or father’s daughter Sister

Mother’s or father’s brother Uncle

Mother’s or father’s sister Aunt

Mother’s or father’s father Grandfather

Mother’s or father’s mother Grandmother

Son’s wife Daughter-in-law

Daughter’s husband Son-in-law

Husband’s or wife’s sister Sister-in-law

Husband’s or wife’s brother Brother-in-law

Brother’s son Nephew

Brother’s daughter Niece

Uncle or aunt’s son or daughter Cousin

Sister’s husband Brother-in-law

Brother’s wife Sister-in-law
Grandson’s or Grand daughter’s daughter Great grand daughter

Remark: A relation on the mother’s side is called ‘maternal’ while that on the father’s side is
called ‘paternal’. Thus, mother’s brother is ‘material uncle’ while father’s brother is ‘paternal
uncle’.

73
1.1 INTRODUCING BLOOD RELATIONS:
In this type of Relations, a person gives information to another person either in a
photograph or in front of him. Using this information, a relation is established to identify the
person that has been described.
EXAMPLE: Introducing a man to her husband, a woman said, " His brother's father is the only
son of my grandfather". How is women related to the man"?
SOLUTION: According to the question

Grandfather (+)
Only Son

(+) Father
Daughter
(+) Man (+) Brother Women (-)

Sister

The only son of woman's grandfather will be woman's father, who is the father of man's
brother and therefore of man also. Thus, the woman is the sister of that man.

1.2 SYMBOL BLOOD RELATIONS:

In this type of Relations, certain symbols and codes are used to represent the
information in coded form. The candidate is required to decode the information with the help
of symbols to be used for making family diagram and then find out the relationship between
the persons asked in the question.

Following question based on the information given below:

'P x Q' means 'P is father of Q'.
‘P - Q' means 'P is sister of Q’
'P + Q’ means ‘P is mother of Q’
‘P ÷ Q’ means 'P is brother of Q’.

EXAMPLE: In the expression B + D x M ÷ N, how is M related to B?

SOLUTION: B + D x M ÷ N

74
 B (-)

Grandson Mother

D (+)

Father

M (+) N
Brother

So M is grandson of B

1.3 DIRECT BLOOD RELATIONS:

In this type of Relations, more than one information in the form of Puzzle is given and
based on the information, it is required to deduce the relation between the two individuals
which is asked by drawing a family chart.

EXAMPLE: Read the following information carefully to answer the questions that follow. A
family consists of six members P, Q, R, X, Y and Z. Qis the son but R is not the mother of Q.
P and R are married couple. Y is the brother of R. X is the daughter of P and Z is the brother
of P. Who is the brother - in law of R?

SOLUTION: According to the given information, we can draw a relation diagram is as shown
below.
Married Couple

Y (+) R (+) P (-) Z (+)

Q (+) X (-)

Therefore, Z is brother - in law of R.

75
 PRACTICE

EXAMPLE 1: 'Ram' is the father of 'Kusha' but 'Kusha' is not his son. 'Mala' is the
daughter of Kusha'. 'Shalaka' is the spouse of 'Ram'. 'Gopal' is the brother of' Kusha '. Hari' is
the son of 'Gopal'. 'Meena' is the spouse of 'Gopal'. 'Ganpat' is the father of " Meena'. Who is
the grand-daughter of 'Ram'?
SOLUTION: According to the information given in the question, the relation chart is given
below

Ram Shalaka (spouse) Ganpat (father)

Kusha (daughter) Gopal (brother) Meena (spouse)

Mala (daughter) Hari (son)

'Mala' is the daughter of 'Kusha' and 'Ram' is the father of ' Kusha' . So, 'Mala' is the
granddaughter of 'Ram'.
EXAMPLE 2: Pointing a person, a man said to a lady, His mother is the only daughter of your
father. How is the lady related to the person?

SOLUTION: According to the information given in the question, the relation chart is given
below

Person Father

Son

Mother Only Daughter

Lady

The only daughter of lady’s father is the lady herself who is the mother of the person.

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EXAMPLE 3: A boy said to a woman, His mother is the only daughter of your father. How is
the father related to the boy?
SOLUTION: According to the information given in the question, the relation chart is given
below

Boy Grandson Father

Mother Only Daughter

Women

Only daughter of the woman's father= the woman herself So, the woman is the boy's mother.
So, the relation is grandfather.
EXAMPLE 4: A is the husband of B, B is the sister of C and C is the son of P but P is not
father of C. How is the P related to B?
SOLUTION: According to the information given in the question, the relation chart is given
below

P (-)
Mother

A (+) Husband B (-) Sister C (+)

The relation P is mother of B.

EXAMPLE 5: Pointing out to a photograph, a man tells his friend, "She is the daughter of the
only son of my father's wife." How is the girl in the photograph related to the man?
SOLUTION: The relations may be analysed as follows: Father's wife - Mother's only son -
Himself. So, the girl is man's daughter. Hence, the answer is Daughter.
EXAMPLE 6: Pointing to a girl in the photograph, Amar said, "Her mother's brother is the
only son of my mother's father." How is the girl's mother related to Amar?
SOLUTION: Only son of Amar's mother 's father - Amar's maternal uncle. So, the girl's
maternal uncle is Amar's maternal uncle. Thus, the girl's mother is Amar's aunt.

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EXAMPLE 7: Study the following information and answer the given questions. T is the sister
of D. D is married to P. P is the son of M. T is the mother of J.Y is the father of U.Y has
only one son and only one daughter. U is the daughter of T. Q is the son of D. How is P related
to T?
SOLUTION: According to the information given in the question, the relation chart is given

Y (+) T (-) Sister D (-) P (+)

U (-) J (+) Q (+)

P is the husband of T's sister, i.e. brother-in-law of T.

EXAMPLE 8: Looking at the photo of a man, Sunil said," His mother is the wife of my father's
son. Brothers and sisters, I have none." How the man in the photo is related to Sunil?
SOLUTION: According to the question, Since, Sunil has no brother and sister. So, Sunil's
father's son is Sunil himself. Thus, the mother of the man in photograph is the wife of Sunil
Hence, the man in the photograph is Sunil's son.
EXAMPLE 9: Read the following information and answer the questions given below it:
a) X x Y means X is the father of Y
b) X – Y means X is the sister of Y
c) X + Y means X is the mother of Y
d) X ÷ Y means X is the brother of Y.
In the expression B + D x A ÷ N, how is A related to B?
SOLUTION: B + D x A ÷ N means B is the mother of D who is the father of A, who, in tum,
is the brother of N. Thus, A is the son of D, whose mother is B i.e., A is B’s Grandson

78
 EXERCISE

1.Pointing to a photograph of a boy Suresh said, "He is the son of the only son of my mother."
How is Suresh related to that boy?
A. Brother B. uncle C. cousin D. father
2. If A + B means A is the mother of B; A - B means A is the brother B; A % B means A is the
father of B and A x B means A is the sister of B, which of the following shows that P is the
maternal uncle of Q?
A. Q - N + M x P B. P + S x N – Q C. P - M + N x Q D. Q - S % P
3. If A is the brother of B; B is the sister of C; and C is the father of D, how D is related to A?
A. Brother B. sister C. nephew D. cannot be determined
4. If A + B means A is the brother of B; A - B means A is the sister of B and A x B means A
is the father of B. Which of the following means that C is the son of M?
A. M - N x C + F B. F - C + N x M C. N + M - F x C D. M x N - C + F
5. Introducing a boy, a girl said, "He is the son of the daughter of the father of my uncle." How
is the boy related to the girl?
A. Brother B. nephew C. uncle D. son-in-law
6. Pointing to a photograph Lata says, "He is the son of the only son of my grandfather." How
is the man in the photograph related to Lata?
A. Brother B. uncle C. cousin D. inadequate data
7.If A + B means A is the brother of B; A x B means A is the son of B; and A % B means B is
the daughter of A then which of the following means M is the maternal uncle of N?
A. M + O x N B. M % O x N + P C. M + O % N D. none of these.
8.If D is the brother of B, how B is related to C?
To answer this question which of the statements is/are necessary?
I. The son of D is the grandson of C.
II. B is the sister of D.
A. Only I B. Only II C. Either I or II D. I & II both
9.If A + B means A is the father of B; A - B means A is the brother B; A % B means A is the
wife of B and A x B means A is the mother of B, which of the following shows that M is the
maternal grandmother of T?
A. M x N % S + T B. M x N - S % T C. M x S - N % T D. M x N x S % T
10.Pointing to a photograph. Bajpai said, "He is the son of the only daughter of the father of
my brother." How Bajpai is related to the man in the photograph?

79
 A. Nephew B. brother C. father D. Maternal Uncle
11.Deepak said to Nitin, "That boy playing with the football is the younger of the two brothers
of the daughter of my father's wife." How is the boy playing football related to Deepak?
A. Son B. brother C. cousin D. brother-in-law
12.Pointing a photograph X said to his friend Y, "She is the only daughter of the father of my
mother." How X is related to the person of photograph?
A. Daughter B. son C. nephew D. cannot be decided.
13.Veena who is the sister-in-law of Ashok, is the daughter-in-law of Kalyani. Dheeraj is the
father of Sudeep who is the only brother of Ashok. How Kalyani is related to Ashok?
A. Mother-in-law B. aunt C. wife D. none of these.
14. If A + B means A is the sister of B; A x B means A is the wife of B, A % B means A is the
father of B and A - B means A is the brother of B. Which of the following means T is the
daughter of P?
A. P x Q % R + S – T B. P x Q % R - T + S C. P x Q % R + T – S D. P x Q % R + S + T
15. Pointing to a woman, Abhijit said, "Her granddaughter is the only daughter of my brother."
How is the woman related to Abhijit?
A. Sister B. grandmother C. mother-in-law D. mother
Directions (16-20): Study the following information and answer the questions given below it:
All the six members of a family A, B, C, D, E and F are traveling together. B is the son of C
but C is not the mother of B. A and C are a married couple. E is the brother of C. D is the
daughter of A. F is the brother of B.
16. How many male members are there in the family ?
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
17. Who is the mother of B?
A) D B) F C) E D) A
18. How many children do A have?
A) One B) Two C) Three D) Four
19. Who is the wife of E ?
A) A B) F C) B D) Cannot be determined
20. Which of the following is a pair of females?
A) AE B) BD C) DF D) AD

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 KEY

1) D 2) C 3) D 4) D 5) A 6) A 7) C 8) D 9) A 10) D

11) B 12) B 13) D 14) B 15) D 16) D 17) D 18) C 19) D 20) D

81
 CHAPTER 1O
DIRECTIONS
1. INTRODUCTION:
In a number of competitive exams, there are questions, which test the student’s
sense of direction. The questions typically involve a person moving certain distances in
specified directions. Then, the student is asked to find out the net distance travelled between
two points. The easiest way of solving these problems is to draw a diagram as you read
information about the problem and let the diagram reflect all the information given in the
problem.
Direction is the measurement of position of one object with respect to another object
and displacement is the minimum distance between the starting point and final point of an
object. In this Direction Test 8 directions are there. Four are main directions and remaining
four are cardinal directions. The four main directions are - East, West, North and South and the
four cardinal directions are - North-East (N-E), North-West (N-W), South-East (S-E),
and South-West (S-W).

1.1 In this direction test 4 types of question are there. They are
1.1.1 Based on degrees (clockwise and anticlockwise)
1.1.2 Based on distance (total distances or shortest distances)
1.1.3 Based on directions (from the Initial point or from endpoint)
1.1.4 Based on shadow (morning or evening time)

1.2 Based on Degrees: Angle formed between two main directions (i.e. North-East; North-
West; South-East or South-West) is 90° and angle formed between a cardinal direction and
main direction is 45°.
N

NW NE

W 900 450 E

SW SE

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1.3 Shortest Distance: If we draw a straight line from the initial point of the object to the final
point, then length of this line is called shortest distance.

EXAMPLE: An object starts from point A and reaches to point C after going through point B.

Then, distance between initial and final position = AB + BC

But shortest distance between initial and final position = AC

To find the shortest distance between two points, it is necessary to know Pythagoras theorem.

A Initial Position

B C Final Position

Here, in AB = Perpendicular BC = Base and AC = Hypotenuse

Hence, the shortest distance between A and C. i.e., AC = √ (AB2 + BC2)

1.4 Angle of Movement: For solving questions based on angle of movement, it is necessary to
know the rotations which are given below

(i) Movement towards the right is called clockwise (CW) movement.

(ii) Movement towards the left is called anti-clockwise (ACW) movement.

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1.5 Shadow at the Time of Sunrise:

In the morning, sunrise in the East, the shadow of any person or object falls in the West.

1.6 Shadow at the Time of Sunset:

In the evening, when the sunset in the West, the shadow of a person or an object falls
in the East.

1.7 Some important points to be remembered:

1. A person moves right side taking clockwise direction (by default 90°)
2. A person moves left side taking Anti - clockwise direction (by default 90°)
3. At the time of sunrise if a man stands facing the east, his shadow will be towards west.
4. At the time of sunset if a man stands facing the west, the shadow of an object is always
in the east.
5. If a man stands facing the North, at the time of sunrise his shadow will be towards his
left and at the time of sunset it will be towards his right.
6. At 12:00 noon, the rays of the sun are vertically downward hence there will be no
shadow.

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 PRACTICE

EXAMPLE 1: Siva starting from his house, goes 5 km in the East, then he turns to his left and
goes 4 km. finally he turns to his left and goes 5 km. Now how far is he from his house and in
what direction?
SOLUTION:
5 km N
4 km 4 km W E
S
House 5 km 5 km 5 km

From third position it is clear he is 4 km from his house and is in North direction.
EXAMPLE 2: Suresh starting from his house, goes 4 km in the East, then he turns to his right
and goes 3 km. What minimum distance will be covered by him to come back to his house?
SOLUTION:

House 4 km 4 km 4 km
3 km 3 km

Minimum distance = √(42 + 32 ) km

= √(16 + 9) km
= √25 km
= 5 km
Therefore, the minimum distance will be covered by him to come back to his house is 5 km.
EXAMPLE 3: One morning after sunrise Juhi while going to school met Lalli at boring road
crossing. Lalli's shadow was exactly to the right of Juhi. If they were face to face, which
direction was Juhi facing?
SOLUTION: In the morning sunrises in the east.

W E

85
So, in the morning the shadow falls towards the west. Now Lalli's shadow falls to the right of
the Juhi. Hence Juhi is facing South.
EXAMPLE 4: Hema starting from her house walked 5 km to reach the crossing of Palace. In
which direction she was going, a road opposite to this direction goes to Hospital. The road to
the right goes to station. If the road which goes to station is just opposite to the road which IT-
Park, then in which direction to Hema is the road which goes to IT-Park?
SOLUTION:
IT-Park

5 km 5 km
Hema Crossing Hema Hospital
House of place House

Station Road

From II it is clear that the road which goes to IT-Park is left to Hema.
EXAMPLE 5: Ravi walks 8 km North-East and then 6 km South-East. Find the total distance
as well as shortest distance between starting and end points.

SOLUTION: According to the question, N

B NW NE

8 km 900 6 km W E

SW SE
A- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C S
Starting Point Ending Point
Here, total distance = AB + BC = 8 + 6 = 14 km

and shortest distance AC = √ (AB2 + BC 2)

= √ (82 + 6 2)

= √ (64 + 36)

= √ (100)

= 10 km

So, the answer is 10 km.

86
EXAMPLE 6: Suman walks 15 km towards North. She turns right and walks another 15 km.
She turns right and walks another 15 km. In which direction is she from the starting point?

SOLUTION: According to the question, the direction diagram of Suman is a given below.

C 15 km B N

15 km 15 km W E

Starting Point O…15 km…...A Final Point S

Let O be the starting point and A be ending point of Suman. It is clear from the diagram that,
she is in East direction from her starting point.

EXAMPLE 7: After starting from a point, a man walks 4 km towards West, then turning to
his right he moves 4 km. After this, he again turns right and moves 4 km. Which choice given
below indicates the correct direction in which he is from his starting point?

SOLUTION: According to the question, the direction diagram of a man is as given below

C 4 km D Ending Point N

4 km W E

B 4 km A Starting Point S

Let A & D are starting, ending point of man. So, he is in North direction from his starting point.

EXAMPLE 8: If South-West becomes North, then what will North-East be?

SOLUTION: The diagrammatic representation of direction is as shown below

Clearly, directions are 135° clockwise. Hence, N-E will become South moving 135° clockwise.

87
EXAMPLE 9: A clock is so placed that at 12 noon its minute hand points towards North-
East. In which direction does its hour hand point at 1:30 pm?
SOLUTION: In this question, the clock is placed, so that at 12 noon its minute hand point
towards North-East. We know that minute and hour hand point in the same direction at 12
noon. Therefore, the clock will look somewhat li

At 1: 30 pm, the hour hand will point in the East direction.

EXAMPLE 10: A girl is facing North. She turns 180° in the anti-clockwise direction and then
225° in the clockwise direction. Which direction is she facing now?

SOLUTION: The girl turns 180° in anti-clockwise direction and then 225° in the clockwise
direction, which means she finally turns 45° in clockwise direction.

Initially she was facing North. So, now she is facing North-East direction.
EXAMPLE 11: A person walks towards his house at 8:00 am and observes his shadow to his
right. In which direction he is walking?

SOLUTION: At 8:00 am the Sun is in the East direction.

Clearly, the person is walking towards the South direction.

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 EXERCISE
1.One morning Udai and Vishal were talking to each other face to face at a crossing. If Vishal's
shadow was exactly to the left of Udai, which direction was Udai facing?
A. East B. West C. North D. South
2. Y is in the East of X which is in the North of Z. If P is in the South of Z, then in which
direction of Y, is P?
A. North B. South C. South-east D. none of these.
3. If South-East becomes North, North-East becomes West and so on. What will West become?
A. North-east B. North-west C. South east D. south-west
4. A man walks 5 km toward south and then turns to the right. After walking 3 km he turns to
the left and walks 5 km. Now in which direction is he from the starting place?
A. West B. South C. North-east D. South-west
5.Rahul put his timepiece on the table in such a way that at 6 P.M. hour hand points to North.
In which direction the minute hand will point at 9.15 P.M. ?
A. South-east B. South C. North D. West
6. Rahul walked 20 m towards north. Then he turned right and walks 30 m. Then he turns right
and walks 35 m. Then he turns left and walks 15 m. Finally he turns left and walks 15 m. In
which direction and how many metres is he from the starting position?
A.15 m west B. 30 m east C. 30 m west D. 45 m east
7. One morning after sunrise Nivedita and Niharika were talking to each other face to face at
Dalphin crossing. If Niharika's shadow was exactly to the right of Nivedita, Which direction
Niharika was facing?
A. North B. south C. east D. inadequate data
8. Starting from the point X, Jayant walked 15 m towards west. He turned left and walked 20
m. He then turned left and walked 15 m. After this he turned to his right and walked 12 m. How
far and in which directions is now Jayant from X?
A.32 m south B. 47 m east C. 42 m north D. 27 m south
9. One evening before sunset Rekha and Hema were talking to each other face to face. If Hema's
shadow was exactly to the right of Hema, which direction was Rekha facing?
A. North B. South C. East D. Data is inadequate
10. A boy rode his bicycle Northward, then turned left rode 1 km and again turned left and rode
2 km. He found himself 1 km west of his starting point. How far did he ride northward initially?
A.1 km B. 2 km C. 3 km D. 5 km

89
11.K is 40 m South-West of L. If M is 40 m South-East of L, then M is in which direction of
K?
A. East B. West C. North-east D. South
12. A man walks 2 km towards North. Then he turns to East and walks 10 km. After this he
turns to North and walks 3 km. again he turns towards East and walks 2 km. How far is he from
the starting point?
A.10 km B. 13 km C. 15 km D. none of these
13. The length and breadth of a room are 8 m and 6 m respectively. A cat runs along all the
four walls and finally along a diagonal order to catch a rat. How much total distance is covered
by the cat?
A.10 B. 14 C. 38 D. 48
14. Ravi left home and cycled 10 km towards South, then turned right and cycled 5 km and
then again turned right and cycled 10 km. After this he turned left and cycled 10 km. How
many kilometers will he have to cycle to reach his home straight?
A. 10 km B. 15 km C. 20 km D. 25 km
15. Reena walked from A to B in the East 10 feet. Then she turned to the right and walked 3
feet. again she turned to the right and walked 14 feet. How far is she from A?
A.4 feet B. 5 feet C. 25 feet D. 27 feet
16. One morning after sunrise, Vimal started to walk. During this walking he met Stephen who
was coming from opposite direction. Vimal watch that the shadow of Stephen to the right of
him (Vimal). To Which direction Vimal was facing?
A. East B. West C. South D. Inadequate data
17. Golu started from his house towards North. After covering a distance of 8 km. he turned
towards left and covered a distance of 6 km. What is the shortest distance now from his house?
A.10 km B. 16 km C. 14 km D. 2 km
18. P started from his house towards west. After walking a distance of 25 m. He turned to the
right and walked 10 m. He then again turned to the right and walked 15 m. After this he is to
turn right at 135o and to cover 30 m. In which direction should he go?
A. West B. South C. South-west D. south-east
19. X started to walk straight towards south. After walking 5 m he turned to the left and walked
3 m. After this he turned to the right and walked 5 m Now to which direction X is facing?
A. North-east B. south C. north D. south-west

90
 KEY

1) C 2) D 3) C 4) D 5) D 6) D 7) A 8) A 9) A 10) B

11) A 12) B 13) C 14) B 15) B 16) C 17) A 18) C 19) B

91
 CHAPTER 11
CODED INEQUALITIES

1. INTRODUCTION:
In this topic, certain relation between different set of elements is given in terms of “less
then”, “grater then” or “equal to”, using either using the real symbols or substituted symbols.
The candidate is required to analyse the given statement and then decide which of the relation
given as alternatives follows from those given in the statement.

PRACTICE

Directions (1-5): In the following questions, the symbols *, %, $, # AND © are used with the
following meanings as illustrated below:
P $ Q means P is smaller than Q; i.e., P < Q;
P * Q means P is neither smaller than nor greater than Q; i.e., P = Q;
P # Q means P is either greater than or equal to Q'; i.e., P ≥ Q;
P % Q means P is greater than Q'; i.e., P > Q;
P © Q means 'P is either smaller than or equal to Q’; i.e., P ≤ Q.
Now, in each of the following questions, assuming the given statements to be true, Find
which of the two conclusions I and II given below them is/are definitely true?
Given Answer:
(a) if only conclusion 1 is true;
(b) if only conclusion 2 is true;
(c) if either conclusion 1 and 2 is true;
(d) if neither conclusion 1 nor 2 is true;
(e) if both conclusions 1and 2 are true.

EXAMPLE 1:

Statements: B # D, D * F, F % H

Conclusions: 1. F * B 2. F $ B

SOLUTION: Given statements: B > D, D = F, F > H

92
 Relation between F and B:

F = D, D <= B » F = D <= B » F <= B

F < B or F = B i.e. F $ B or F * B

So, either Conclusion 1 or 2 is true.

EXAMPLE 2:

Statements: H $ J, J* N, N # T

Conclusions: 1. T % H 2. J # T

SOLUTOIN: Give statements: H < J, J = N, N >= T

Relation between T and H:

T <= N, N= J, J > H » T <= N = J > H = T <= J > H = no definite conclusion.

Relation between J and T:

J = N, N >= T » J >= T ie. J # T.

So, only Conclusion 2 is true while 1 is not.

EXAMPLE 3:

Statements: M % K, K # T, T * J

Conclusions: 1. J © K 2. T $ M

SOLUTION: Given statements: M > K, K >= T, T = J

Relation between J and K:

J = T, T <= K » J = T <= K » J <= K i.e., J © k

Relation between T and M

T <= K, K < M » T <= k < M » T < M ie. T$ M.

So, both Conclusion 1 and 2 are true.

93
EXAMPLE 4:

Statements: W © F, F % R, R # K

Conclusions: 1. W $ K 2. K * W

SOLUTION: Given statements: W <= F, F>R, R >= K

Relation between W and K (or K and W):

W <= F,F > R, R >= K » W <= F > R >= K W <= F > K = no definite conclusion.

So, neither Conclusion 1 nor 2 follows.

EXAMPLE 5:

Statements: V © R, R $ M, M * W

Conclusions: 1. W % V 2. V © W

SOLUTION: Given statements: V <= R, R < M, M = W

Relation between W and V (or V and W)

W = M, M > R, R >= V » W = M > R >= V » W > R >= V » W > V

i.e. W % V » V < W i.e. V $ W. So, only Conclusion 1 is true.

Directions (6-12): In the following questions, the symbols @, ©, %, * and $ are used with the
following meanings as illustrated below:

P @ Q means "P is either greater than or equal to Q'; P ≥ Q;

P © Q means ‘P is either smaller than or equal to Q’; P ≤ Q;

P % Q means 'P is greater than Q’; P > Q; P * Q means ‘P is smaller than Q’; P< Q;

P $ Q means ‘P is neither greater than nor smaller than Q; P = Q.

Now in each of the following questions assuming the given statement to be true, find
which of the two conclusions 1 and 2 given below them is/are definitely true?

Given answer:
(a) if only conclusion 1 is true;

94
 (b) if only conclusion 2 is true;
(c) if either conclusion 1 or 2 is true;
(d) if neither 1 nor 2 is true;
(e) if both conclusion 1 and 2 are true.

EXAMPLE 6:

Statement: M @ R, R % T, T $ K

Conclusion:1. K * M 2. T * M

SOLUTION: Given statement: M > R, R > T, T = K.

Relation between K and M:

K = T, T < R, R <= M »K < R <= M » K < M i.e. K * M.

Relation between T and M:

T < R, R <= M » T < R <= M » T < M i.e. T * M.

So, both conclusions 1 and 2 are true, hence the answer is (e).

EXAMPLE 7:

Statement: H % J, B © J, B @ F

Conclusion:1. F $ J 2. J % F

SOLUTION: Given statement: H > J, B <= J, B >= F.

Relation between F and J:

B >= F, B <= J » F <= B <= J » F <= J » F < J, F = J

» J > F OR F = J i.e., j % F or F $ J.

So, either conclusion I or II is true.

EXAMPLE 8:

Statement: D $ M, M % W, W @ R

Conclusion: 1. R * D 2.W © D

95
SOLUTION: Given statement: D = M, M > W, W >= R.

Relation between R and D:

R <= W, W < M, M = D » R <= W < M = D » R < D i.e. R * D

Relation between W and D:

W < M, M = D » W < M = D » W < D ie. W* D.

So, only I is true while II is not. Hence, the answer is (a).

EXAMPLE 9:

Statement: A© N, N * V, V $ J

Conclusions: 1.J @ N 2. A © V

SOLUTION: Given statements: A <= N, N < V, V = J.

Relation between J and N:

J = V, V > N » J > N i.e. J % N.

Relation between A and V:

A <= N, N < V » A < V I.e. A *V.

So, neither conclusion 1 nor 2 is true. Hence, the answer is (d).

EXAMPLE 10:

Statement: K * T, T @ B, B © M

Conclusions: 1. M % T 2.K © B

SOLUTION: Given statements: K < T, T >= B,B <= M.

Relation between M and T:

M <= B, B <= T » no definite solution

Relation between K and B: K < T, T >= b » no definite solution

So, neither conclusion 1 or 2 is true, hence the answer is (d).

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EXAMPLE 11:

Statement: B @ H, H * M, M $ N

Conclusions: 1. B @ N 2.N % H

SOLUTION: Given statement: B >= H, H < M, M = N.

Relation between B and H:

B >= H, H < M, M = N » B >= H < M = N » no definite conclusion.

Relation between N and H:

N = M, M > H » N > H ie. N % H.

So, only conclusion II is true. Hence, the answer is (b).

EXAMPLE 12:

Statement: W © R, J @ R, J * K

Conclusions: 1. J @ W 2.K % R

SOLUTION: Given statements: W <= R, J >= R, J < K.

Relation between J and W:

J >= R, R >= W » J >= R >= W » J >= W i.e. J @ W.

Relation between K and R:

K > J, J >= R » K > J >=R » K > R i.e. K % R.

So, both conclusion I and II are true. Hence, the answer is (e).

97
 EXERCISE
Directions (1-7): In the following questions, the symbols @, %, #, $, © are used with different
meanings as explained below:

‘P @ Q’ means ‘P is not greater than Q;

‘P % Q’ means ‘P is neither greater than nor equal to Q’;

‘P # Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor equal to Q’;

‘P $ Q’ means ‘P is neither smaller than nor greater than Q’;

‘P © Q’ means ‘P is not smaller than Q;

In each question, two statements showing relationship have been given, which are
followed by two conclusions I and II. Assuming that the given statements are true. Find out
which of the conclusions is/are definitely true. Mark as answers:

A. If only conclusion I is true

B. If only conclusion II is true
C. If either conclusion I or II is true
D. If neither conclusion I nor II is true
E. If both conclusion I and II are true

1) Statements: T @ L, L % N, D © N

Conclusions: 1. N # T 2. L % D

2) Statements: J # R, R @ B, B % H

Conclusions: 1. J @ B 2. J % H

3) Statements: W @ V, V # X, Y © V.

Conclusions: 1. X % Y 2. X $ W

4) Statements: M $ K, K © F, F % H.

Conclusions: 1. M # F 2. M $ F

98
5) Statements: H © D, D # R,R @ K.

Conclusions: 1. K @ H 2. H # R

6) Statements: E © H, K $ H, K @ M.

Conclusions: 1. E # K 2. E $ M

7) Statements: N % R, R @ K, K # F.

Conclusions: 1. R @ F 2. R # F

Directions (8-14): In the following question, the symbols @, ©, $, %, and # are used with the
following meanings as illustrated below:

‘A $ B’ mans ‘A is not smaller than B’;

‘A # B’ mans ‘A is not greater than B’;

‘A @ B’ mans ‘A is neither smaller than nor equal to B’;

‘A © B’ mans ‘A is neither smaller than nor greater than B’;

‘A % B’ mans ‘A is neither greater than nor equal to B’;

Now, in each of the following questions, assuming the given statements to be true, find
which of the three conclusions I, II, and III given below them definitely true and give your
answer accordingly.

8) Statements: H % J, J © N, N @ R

Conclusions: 1. R % J 2. H @ J 3. N @ H

A. Only I is true B. Only II is true C. Only III is true

D. Only I and III are true E. None is true

9) Statements: M @ J, J $ T, T © N

Conclusions: 1. N # J 2. T % M 3. M @ N

A. Only II and III are true B. Only III is true C. All are true

D. Only I and II is true E. None is true

99
10) Statements: D © K, K # F, F @ P.

Conclusions: 1. P @ D 2. K # P 3. F $ D

A. Only I and II are true B. Only II is true C. Only II and III are true

D. Only III is true E. All are true

11) Statements: R # D, D $ M, M © N

Conclusions: 1. R # M 2. N # D 3. N $ R

A. Only I is true B. Only II is true C. Only III is true

D. None is true E. All are true

12) Statements: K © P, P @ Q, Q $ R

Conclusions: 1. K @ R 2. R % P 3. Q % K

A. Only I and II are true B. Only II and III are true C. Only III is true

D. All are true E. None is true

13) Statements: K # N, N $ T, T % J

Conclusions: 1. J @ N 2. K @ T 3. T @ K

A. None is true B. Only I and II are true C. Only II and III are true

D. Only I and III are true E. None of these

14) Statements: M @ D, D © V, V $ W

Conclusions: 1. W @ M 2. M % V 3. D $ W

A. Only I and II are true B. Only II and III are true C. Only III are true

D. Only I and III are true E. None of these

Directions (15-19): In the following question, the symbols @, #, $, % * are and with the
following meaning as illustrated below:

‘A @ B’ means ‘A is not greater than B’;

‘A # B’ means ‘A is greater than or equal to B’;

100
‘A $ B’ means ‘A is neither greater than nor less than B’;

‘A % B’ means ‘A is less than B’;

‘A * B’ means ‘A is neither less than nor equal to B’;

Now, in each of the following questions, assuming the given statement to be true, find
which of the three conclusions I, II and III given below then is/are definitely true.

15) Statements: K @ L, L % N, E # N

Conclusions: 1. K % E 2. E * L 3. N * K

A. Only I and II are true B. Only II and III are true C. Only I and III are true

D. All are true E. None of these

16) Statements: D $ T, T * P, M @ P

Conclusions: 1. D * M 2. M % T 3. D # P

A. Only I is true B. Only I and II are true C. All are true

D. Only I and III are true E. None of these

17) Statements: T # R, R % L, L * K

Conclusions: 1. T % L 2. K * R 3. T # K

A. Only I is true B. Only I and II are true C. All are true

D. Only II and III are true E. None of these

18) Statements: N % S, S # U, U * M.

Conclusions: 1. M % S 2. N % U 3. N * M

A. Only I is true B. Only II is true C. All are true

D. Only I and III are true E. None is true

19) Statements: C $ J, J % V, E @ V

Conclusions: 1. E % J 2. C * V 3. C * E

A. None is true B. Only II is true C. Only III is true

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 D. Only II and III are true E. All are true

Directions (20-23): In the following questions, the symbols $, #, %, * and @ are used with the
following meaning as illustrated below:
‘X $ Y’ means ‘X is not greater than Y’
‘X # Y’ means ‘X is neither greater than nor smaller than Y’
‘X % Y’ means ‘X is not smaller than Y’
‘X * Y’ means ‘X is neither smaller than nor equal to Y’
‘X @ Y’ means ‘X is neither greater than nor equal to Y’
Now, in each of the following questions, assuming the given statement to be true, find
which of these conclusions I, II, and III given below than is/are definitely true.

20) Statements: D $ K, H * B, K @ H

Conclusions: I. B % K II. B @ K III. H * D

A. Only I and II are true. B. Only either I or II is true C. Only I and III is true

D. Only either I or II and III are true. E. None of these.

21) Statements: T @ R, R $ G, G * B

Conclusions: I. T @ B II. B * R III. T $ G

A. None is true B. Either I or III is true C. Only either I or III is true

D. All I, II, and III are true E. Only I and either II or III are true

22) Statements: F # M, M * J, P % F

Conclusions: I. P * J II. P % J III. P # M

A. Only I is true B. Only I and II are true. C. Only I and III are true

D. Only II and III or I are true E. None of these.

23) Statements: L % J, L @ K, J * F

Conclusions: I. F @ K II. K * J III. F @ L

A. None is true B. Only I and II are true. C. Only I and III are true

D. All are true E. None of these

102
 KEY

1) E 2) D 3) A 4) C 5) B 6) D 7) D 8) D 9) C 10) D

11) B 12) D 13) A 14) C 15) D 16) B 17) E 18) A 19) A 20) E

21) A 22) A 23) D

103
 CHAPTER 12
VENN DIAGRAMS
1. INTRODUCTION:
In this topic we’ll be given data regarding a set of people or things belonging to different
categories. We represent the given data in the form of a Venn diagram which clearly
distinguishes between each category. The value associated with each category will either be
known from the given data or will unknown. From the Venn diagram we derive equations
which will be used to find the unknowns.
1.1 Two variable Venn diagram: µ

Milk Coffee

A C B

N
• ʯ = Total number of people. A = Number of people who drink only Milk.
• B = Number of people who drink only Coffee.
• C = Number of people who drink both Coffee & Milk.
• N = Number of people who neither drink Coffee nor Milk.

1.2 Three variable Venn diagram:

ʯ

Cricket A D B Volley Ball

G
E F

C Foot
Ball N
• ʯ = Total number of people.
• A = Only cricket B = Only Volley Ball. C = Only Foot Ball
• D = Only Cricket and Volley Ball. E = Only Cricket and Foot Ball
• F = Only Foot Ball and Volley Ball. G = All the three sports.
• N = People who don’t play neither of the sport.

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 PRACTICE
TYPE 1:

In this type, Venn diagrams are used to establish relationship between the given groups.
In other words, two or more groups are given and the Venn diagram, which most correctly
establishes a relation between them, has to be chosen out of the various Venn diagrams given
in the choices.

Doctors, Engineers, Lawyers Professors, Author, Children Dogs, Pets, Cats

D E P A C D PP C
P A C
L
L
Engineers, Human beings, Rats Children, Male, Fathers Female, Mothers, Doctors

HHE RR CC MMFF F MF
M D
L

Fathers, Brothers, Male Seconds, Minutes, Hours

DD
Table, Furniture, Chair

F B M T F C
S H T C
F B MM
CF
Clerks, Government Employees, Educated people

CC GG

105
TYPE 2:

Directions (1-3): These questions are based on the data given below. In a class of 95 students.
40 play Cricket, 50 play Football and 10 play both Cricket and Football.

EXAMPLE 1: How many students play only football?

SOLUTION: based on given data we can draw the diagram

µ=95
C= 40 F= 50
Cricket Football
30 10 40

N=15

Observe from the above diagram 40 students are play only football.

EXAMPLE 2: How many students play at least one game?

SOLUTION: Observe from the above diagram 80 students are play at least one game.

EXAMPLE 3: How many students play only cricket?

SOLUTION: Observe from the above diagram 30 students are play only cricket.

Directions (4-5): Study the diagram and the information given below it. Choose the correct
alternative to each question and mark the number of that choice as your answer. Circle
represents Maths, Triangle represents Physics, Rectangle represents English and Square
represents Chemistry.

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EXAMPLE 4: How many students like only Chemistry?

SOLUTION: Observe from the above diagram 24 students are like only Chemistry.

EXAMPLE 5: How many students like English as well as Math but not any other subject?

SOLUTION: Observe from the above diagram 24 students are like English as well as Math
but not any other subject.
Directions (6-7): There are 1500 students in a college. Each student can be a member of three
student communities namely P, Q, and R. Now using the data mentioned and the diagram given
below answer the questions that follow.

• Total members in community P is 300.

• Total members in community Q is 420.
• Total members in community R is 490.

EXAMPLE 6: How many students are part of only community R?

SOLUTION: based on given data we can draw the diagram

ʯ

P 240 20 360 Q
10
30 30
420 R
N
Observe from the above diagram 420 students are part of only community R.

EXAMPLE 7: How many students in not part of any community?

SOLUTION: Observe from the above diagram 390 students not part of any community.

107
 EXERCISE

Directions (1-3): In a class of 150 students 55 speak English, 85 speak Telugu and 30 speak
neither English nor Telugu.
1. How many speak both English & Telugu.
a.10 b. 120 c. 20 d. 45
2. How many speak only Telugu.
a.85 b. 55 c. 95 d. 65
3. How many speak at least one of the two languages from English & Telugu.
a. 110 b. 120 c. 130 d. 100
Directions (4-7): In a class of 70 students 30 failed in mathematics and 35 failed in statistics.
10 students passed in both the subjects.
4. How many failed in both the subjects.
a.65 b. 60 c. 5 d. 15
5. How many students passed only in mathematics?
a. 40 b. 30 c. 15 d. 20
6. How many students passed exactly in one of the two subjects?
a. 60 b. 55 c. 40 d. 35
7. What percent of the students who failed in math’s also failed in statistics?
a. 16 2/3 % b. 25% c. 12 ½ % d. 83 1/3 %

Directions (8-11): In a survey of 150 readers, it has been found that 75 read newspaper A, 90
read newspaper B and 70 read newspaper C. 40 read A & B, 35 read B & C, 30 read A & C
and 10 read all the three.
8. How many respondents read none of the newspapers.
a. 30 b. 20 c. 10 d. 40
9. How many read exactly two newspapers.
a. 75 b. 105 c. 95 d. 85
10. How many read exactly one newspaper.
a. 35 b. 55 c. 235 d. 120
11. How many read neither A nor B.
a. 45 b. 70 c. 110 d. 25

108
Directions (12-15): In a certain class 40% of the students take coffee, 40% take tea and 50%
take milk. 10% take all the three. Also 20 % take coffee and tea, 20% take tea and milk and
20% take coffee and milk. 10 students do not take any of the three.
12. How many students are there in the class?
a. 100 b. 80 c. 50 d.40
13. What percentage of students take exactly two of the three drinks?
a. 40% b.30% c. 60% d. 50%
14. What percentage of the coffee drinkers drink only coffee?
a. 25% b. 10% c.20% d.30%
15. What is the ratio of the number of students who take coffee to that of those who take only
milk?
a. 2:3 b.4:5 c.3:4 d.2:1

Directions (16-20): These questions are based on the following figure. Study the figure
carefully and then answer the questions given below. It is also known that “Triangle” represents
all the models of those cars which are manufactured in the year 1998. “Square” represents the
models of the cars manufactured in the year 1999. “Rectangle” represents all the models of
those cars which were manufactured in the year 2000 whereas “circle” represents all the models
of the cars manufactured in year 2001.

109
16. Which of the following represents the cars which are manufactured only in the year 1999
& 2000?
a. A b. K c. I d. L
17. Which of the following represents the cars which are manufactured only in the year 1998?
a. F b. D c. E d. M
18. Which of the following represents the cars which are manufactured in all the given 4 years?
a. I b. K c. G d. L
19. Which of the following represents the cars which are manufactured in the year 1998 &
2001?
a. F & D b. H & I c. M, G & L d. none of these.
20. Which of the following represents the cars which are manufactured only in 1999?
a. K b. E c. F d. B

110
 KEY

1) C 2) D 3) B 4) C 5) B 6) B 7) A 8) C 9) A 10) B

11) D 12) C 13) B 14) B 15) D 16) B 17) A 18) D 19) C 20) B

111
 CHAPTER 13
CLOCKS
1. INTRODUCTION:
The hour hand and the minute hand of a clock move in relation to each other
continuously and at any given point of time, they make an angle between 00 and 3600 with each
other. If the time shown by the clock is known, the angle between the hands can be calculated.
Similarly, if the angle between the hands is known, the time shown by the clock can be found
out. When we say angle between the hands, we normally refer to the acute/obtuse angles
(upto1800) between the two hands and not the reflex angle (>1800).
For solving the problems on clocks, the following points will be helpful. Minute hand
covers 3600 in 1 hour, i.e., in 60 mins. Hence minute hand covers 60 per minute. Hour hand
covers 3600in 12 hours. Hence hour hand covers 300 per hour. Hence hour hand covers ½ 0 per
minute. The circumference of a dial(face) of a clock(watch) is divided into 60 equal parts called
minute spaces.

1.1 MINUTE HAND (LONG HAND):

1. In an hour, the hour hand covers 5minutes space while the minute hand covers 60
minutes spaces. In 1 hour (or) 60 mins, the minute hand gains 55 mins spaces over the
hour hand.
2. Every hour as the following
i. Minute and hour hands coincide once.
ii. The hands are straight (point in opposite directions) once. In this position, they
are 30 mins space apart.
iii. When both the hands are right angles. In this position, they are 15 mins space
apart.
3. The minute hand moves through 6° in each minute whereas the hour hand moves
through 1/2° in each minute. Thus, in one minute, the minute hand gains 5½° then the
hour hand.
4. When the hands are coincident, the angle between them is 0°.
5. When the hands point in opposite directions. The angle between them is 180°.
6. When the hands are right angles, the angle between them is 90°.
7. The angle between two hands of a clock,

112
 i. When the minute hand is behind the hour hand, the angle between the two
hands at M mins past H O’clock=30[H - M/5] + M/2 Degree.
ii. When the minute hand is ahead of the hour hand, the angle between the two
hands, at M mins past H O’clock=30[M/5 - H] - M/2 Degree.

1.2 RELATIVE POSITION OF THE HANDS:

The position of the M.H. relative to the H.H. is said to be the same, whenever the M.H.
is separated from the H.H. by the same number of minute divisions and is on the same side
(clockwise or anticlockwise) of the H.H.

Any relative position of the hands of a clock is repeated 11 times every 12 hours

1. When both hands are 15-minute spaces apart, they are right angles.
2. When they are 30 minutes spaces apart, they point in opposite directions.
3. Then hands are in the same straight line when they are coincide or opposite to each
other.
4. In every hour, both the hands coincide once
5. In a day, the hands are coinciding 22 times.
6. In every 12 hours, the hands of the clock coincide 11 times.
7. In every 12 hours, the hands of a clock are in opposite directions 11 times.
8. In every 12 hours, the hands of the clock are at angles 22 times.
9. In every hour, the two hands are at right angles 2 times.
10. In every hour, the two hands are in opposite directions once.
11. In a day, the two hands are at right angles 44 times.
12. If both hands coincide, they will again coincide after 65 5/11 minutes, i.e., incorrect
clock, both hands coincide at an interval of 65 5/11 minutes.
13. If the two hands coincide in time less than 65 5/11 minutes, then the clock is too fast
and if the two hands coincide in time more than 65 5/11 minutes, then the clock is too
slow. Shortcut formula for calculation of angle made by hands ɵ =|30H - 11/2 M| where
H=Hour, M=Minute

113
1.3 Important Formula:

• Between x and (x+1) O’clock, the two hands are at a right angle at (5x∓15) × 12/11
minutes past x.
• Between x and (x+1) O’clock the two hands are in the same straight line.

Case-I:

• When they are in opposite directions at (5x-30) × 12/11minutes past x, [where x>6]
• (5x+30) × 12/11minutes past x, [where x<6]

Note: At 6 O’clock two hands will be in opposite direction.

Case-II:

• When they coincide (or come together), at 5x × (12/11) minutes past x.

• The minute hand of a clock overtakes the hour hand at certain intervals (given in
minutes) of correct time. The clock loss or gain in a day is given by [720/11- given
intervals in minutes] × [24 × 60/given interval in minutes] according to the sign-in
positive or negative.

1.4 Concept of Incorrect Clocks:

Two hands of every correct clock coincide after every [65+5/11] minutes

An incorrect clock can either be a fast clock which gains time or a slow clock wise losses time.

Fast clock: In a fast clock, two of a clock coincide every x minutes, where x is less than
[65+5/11] minutes

Time loss per minute = [65 5/11-x] ÷ x.

Slow clock: In slow clock, two hands of a clock coincide every x minutes, where x is greater
than [65+5/11] minutes.

Time loss per minute = [x-65 5/11] ÷ x.

114
 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: What is the angle between the hour and minute hand when it was 5:05 pm?
SOLUTION: 5:05 pm means hour hand was on 5 and minute hand was on 1. i.e., there will be
20 minutes gap. We know that minute hand will rotate in 1 minute is 6°. Here the Angle = 20
× 6° =120°. If you clearly observe that hour hand is not exact position on 5, will be move on
that 5-minute time. We know that hour hand will rotate in 1 minute is ½ °. Here the angle is 5
× ½ ° = 2 ½ °.

Therefore, the angle between hour and minute hand = 120° + 2 ½ ° = 122 ½ °.

Or

formula for calculation of angle made by hands ɵ = |30H - 11/2 M|

= |30 × 5 - 11/2 × 5|

= |150 – 27.5|

= |122.5|

Therefore, the angle between hour and minute hand = 122 ½ °.

EXAMPLE 2: Find the angle between the hour hand and the minute hand of a clock when is
3:30?
SOLUTION: 3:30 means hour hand was on 3 and minute hand was on 6. i.e., there will be 15
minutes gap. We know that minute hand will rotate in 1 minute is 6°. Here the Angle = 15 ×
6° =90°. If you clearly observe that hour hand is not exact position on 3, will be move on that
30-minute time. We know that hour hand will rotate in 1 minute is ½ °. Here the angle is 30 ×
½ ° = 15 °.

Therefore, the angle between hour and minute hand = 90° - 15 ° = 75°.

Or

formula for calculation of angle made by hands ɵ = |30H - 11/2 M|

= |30 × 3 - 11/2 × 30|

= |90 – 165|

115
 = |-75|

= 75

Therefore, the angle between hour and minute hand = 75 °.

EXAMPLE 3: Find the angle between the two hands of a clock at 13 mins past 5 O’clock.

SOLUTION: We have, H = 5 and M = 13 mins.

Angle made by hands ɵ = 30[H-M/5] + M/2 Degree

= 30[5-13/5] + 13/2

= 30[(25-13)/5] + 13/2

= 30[12/5] + 13/2

= 72+13/2

= (144+13)/2=157/2=78 ½=78.5°.

Therefore, the Required angle = 78.5°

EXAMPLE 4: Find at what angle the hands of a clock are inclined at 30minutes past 7.

SOLUTION: We have, 30 minutes past 7 means 7 hours 30 minutes

Angle made by hands ɵ = |30H - 11/2 M|

= |30 × 7 - 11/2 × 30|

= |210 – 165|

= |45|

= 45

Therefore, the angle between hour and minute hand = 45 °.

EXAMPLE 5: The angle between the minute hand and hour hand of a clock when the time
3.05

SOLUTION: We have, formula for calculation of

angle made by hands ɵ = |30H - 11/2 M|

116
 = |30 × 3 - 11/2 × 5|

= |90 – 27.5|

= |62.5|

= 62.5

Therefore, the Required angle = 62.5°

EXAMPLE 6: Find reflex angle between the hands of a clock at 9.30.

SOLUTION: formula for calculation of

angle made by hands ɵ = |30H - 11/2 M|

= |30 × 9 - 11/2 × 30|

= |270 – 165|

= |105|

= 105

∴Reflex angle=360°-105° = 255°

Therefore, the required angle is 255°.

EXAMPLE 7: At what time between 4’O clock and 5’O clock will the hands of a clock be
right angles?
SOLUTION: The hands of a clock will be right angles twice between 4’O clock and 5’O clock
is

[(5x ± 15) × 12/11] minutes past x

[(5×4 ± 15) × 12/11] minutes past 4

[(5×4 +15) × 12/11] minutes past 4; [(5×4 -15) × 12/11] minutes past4

[(20 +15) × 12/11] minutes past 4; [(20 -15) × 12/11] minutes past4

[35 × 12/11] minutes past 4; [5 × 12/11] minutes past 4

[420/11] minutes past 4; [60/11] minutes past 4

117
 [38 (2/11)] minutes past 4; [5 5/11] minutes past 4

Therefore, they are right angles at {38 (2/11)} and {5 (5/11)} minutes past 4.

EXAMPLE 8: Find at what time between 8 and 9’O clock will the hands of a clock be in the
same straight line but not together.

SOLUTION: The hands of a clock will be right at right angles between 8’O clock and 9’O
clock (5x - 30) × 12/11minutes past x, [where x >6]

Required answer = (5 × 8 - 30) × 12/11minutes past8.

∴10 × 12/11minutes past 8 ⟹120/11minutes past 8 ⟹10 10/11minutes past 8.

EXAMPLE 9: What is the angle covered by the hour hand is 55 minutes?

SOLUTION: We know, the speed of hour hand is 1/2° per minute

So, the angle covered in 55 mins = [1/2×55] = 27.5°

EXAMPLE 10: At what time between 5 and 6 O’clock are the hands of a clock together?

SOLUTION: We know that, they coincide, at 5x × (12/11) minutes past x.

= 5×5 × (12/11) minutes past 5

= 25 × 12/11 minutes past 5

= 300/11 minutes past 5

= 27 3/11 minutes past 5.

EXAMPLE 11: Calculate at what time between 9 and 10 O’clock will the hands of a clock be
in the same straight /line but not together.

SOLUTION: We know that,

when they are in opposite directions at (5x-30) × 12/11minutes past x, [where x>6]
= (5×9-30) × 12/11minutes past 9
= (45-30) × 12/11minutes past 9
= 15 × 12/11minutes past 9

118
 = 180/11minutes past 9
= 16 4/11min past 9.

Therefore, between 9 and 10 O’clock will the hands of a clock be in the same straight
/line but not together 16 4/11min past 9.

EXAMPLE 12: Calculate at what time between 1 and 2 O’clock will the hands of a clock
together.

SOLUTION: At 1 o'clock, the hour hand is at 1 and the minute hand is at 12, i.e.., they are
5mints.

Space apart. To be together, the minute hand must gain 5mints over the hour
hand.

We know,55 minutes are gained by it in 60min.

5minutes will be gained by in [60/55×5] = 60/11=5 5/11minutes

The hands will coincide at =5 5/11minutes past 1.

EXAMPLE 13: Calculate at what time between 7 and 8 O'clock are the hands of a clock 5
minutes apart?
SOLUTION: At 7 O’clock the minute hand is 35 minutes spaces behind the hour hand.

Case-1: Minute hand is 5 minutes spaces behind the hour hand.

From the above, the minute hand is to gain = (35-5) = 30minutes.

We have, 55minutes are gained in 60 minutes.

30mins are gained = (60/55×30) = 360/11= 32 8/11mins.

The hands will be 5minutes apart at 32 8/11 minutes past 7.

Case-2: Minute hand is 5minutes spaces ahead of the hour hand.

From the above, the min hand is to gain = (35+5) = 40minutes.

We have,55 minutes are gained in 60mins.

40 mins are gained=[60/55×40]=480/11=43 7/11minutes past 7.

119
EXAMPLE 14: How much does a watch gain or lose per day, if its hands coincide every 64
minutes?

SOLUTION: We know that, the clock loss or gain in a day

= [720/11- given intervals in minutes] × [24 × 60/given interval in minutes]

= [720/11- 64] × [24×60/64] = 16/11×24×60/64=360/11=32 8/11min.

Therefore, the clock gains 32 8/11minutes in per day.

EXAMPLE 15: The minute hand of a clock overtakes the hour hand at intervals of 65 minutes
of the correct time. How much a day does the clock gain or lose?

SOLUTION: We know that, the clock loss or gain in a day

= [720/11- given intervals in minutes] × [24 × 60/given interval in minutes]

= [65 5/11- given intervals in minutes] × [24 × 60/given interval in minutes]

= [65 5/11- 65] × [24 × 60/65]

= [5/11] × [24 × 12/13]

= 1440/143

= 10 10/143.

Therefore, the clock gains 10 10/143 minutes in per day.

EXAMPLE 16: How much does a watch gain per day, If its hands coincide every 60 minutes?

SOLUTION: We know, 55 minutes spaces are covered in 60 mins.

1minute spaces are covered in 60/55 mins.

60 minutes spaces are covered in [60 × 60/55] min = 65 5/11 min

Gain in 60 minutes = [65 5/11-60] = 60/11 min

Gain in a 1 minute = 60/11 × 1/60

Gain in 24 hrs = [60/11 × 1/60 × 24×60] = 1440/11 = 130 10/11

Therefore, the clock gains 130 10/11 minutes in per day.

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EXAMPLE 17: A clock is set right at 6.00 a.m. The clock gains 10 min in 24 hrs. What will
be the true time when clock indicates 11:00 a.m. on the following day?

SOLUTION: The right time of clock from 6.00 a.m. to 11 a.m. on the following day = 29 hrs

24 hrs and 10 min of this clock =24 hrs of correct clock

24 ⅙ hrs of this clock →24 hrs in actual

29 hrs of this clock → x hrs in actual

X = 24 × 29/24(⅙) = 24 × 29 × 6/145=28 hrs and 48 minutes in actual

So, the correct time will be 28 hrs and 48 minutes past 6:00 a.m. i.e., 10:48 a.m.

on the following day.

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 EXERCISE

1. How many degrees does an hour hand move in 10 minutes?

(1)10 (2) 20 (3) 15 (4) 5
2. How many degrees will the minute hand move in the same time, in which the hour-hand
move 10o?
(1) 40 (2)80 (3) 120 (4) 160
3. If the time in a clock is 7 hours 15 minutes, then what time does it show on the mirror?
(1) 4hr 50min (2) 4hr 40min (3) 4hr 35 min (4) 4hr 45 min
4. At what angle are the hands of a clock inclined at 4 hours 20 minutes?
(1) 5o (2) 10o (3) 20o (4) 25o
5. At what angle are the hands of a clock inclined at 20 minutes past 7?
(1) 80 (2) 90 (3) 100 (4) 120
6. A clock strikes once at 1 o’clock twice at 2 o’clock thrice at 3 o’clock and so on. If it takes
12 Sec to strike at 4 o’clock how much time will it take to strike at 8 o’clock
(1) 24 Sec (2) 30Sec (3) 32 Sec (4) 28Sec
7. At what time between 6 and 7 o’clock are the hands of a clock together?
(1) 6hours 32 8/11min (2) 6 hours 33 6/11 (3) 6 hours 34 5/11 (4) 6 hours 29 7/11
8. The angle between the two hands of a clock is 70 degrees, when the hour hand is between 7
and 8. what time does the watch show?
(1) 7 hours 50 10/11min (2) 7 hours 30 10/11 (3) 7 hours 42 8/11 (4) Both 1 and 2
9. A watch which uniformly was observed to be 4 minutes slow at 6 am on a Monday. On the
subsequent Thursday at 7 pm it was noticed that the watch was 6 minutes fast. When did the
watch show the correct time?
(1) 5 pm Tuesday (2) 4pm Tuesday (3) 6pm Tuesday (4) 3pm Tuesday
10. At what time between 1 and 2 o’clock are the two hands coincident?
(1)1 : 125/11 (2)1 : 075/11 (3)1 : 055/11 (4)1 : 085/11
11. Find the time interval (in minutes) between the consecutive times that the hands of the
clock are at right angles to each other
(1)33 7/11 (2)34 6/11 (3)32 8/11 (4)35 8/11
12. Find the number of times the hands of clock are 180 degrees apart in a day?
(1)11 (2)22 (3)12 (4)44
13. A clock is set right at 5am.The clock loses 16mins in 2hrs. What will be the true time when
the clock indicates 11am on fourth day?

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 (1)11pm (2)1pm (3)2pm (4)3pm
14. A clock is started at noon. By 10mins past 5, the hour hand has turned through
(1)145deg (2)150deg (3)155deg (4)160deg
15. How many times in a day will both the hands of a clock be inclined at an angle of 68.5
degrees?
(1)11 (2)22 (3)33 (4)44
16. Between two consecutive hours, how many times do both the hands of a clock be at right
angles?
(1)1 (2)2 (3)3 (4)4
17. A watch which gains 10 seconds in 5 minutes was set right at 9 a.m. When the watch
indicated 20 minutes past 7 O’clock the same evening, the true time is
(1)7 pm (2)7.40 pm (3)7.10 pm (4)8 pm
18. When the reflection of a wall clock is seen in a mirror, the time appeared to be 2 hours 10
minutes. What is the time shown in the clock when its reflection is not observed in the mirror?
(1)10 hours 10 minutes (2)10 hours 50 minutes
(3)9 hours 10 minutes (4)9 hours 50 minutes
19. Ramu asks Shamu, if a wall clock shows 9 hours 30 minutes, what time does it show in the
mirror?
(1)2 hours 30 minutes (2)3 hours 30 minutes
(3)9 hours 30 minutes (4) None of the above
20. A boy observes the reflection of a wall clock in a mirror. The time observed by the boy in
the mirror is 3 hours 45 minutes. What is the actual time shown in the clock?
(1)8 hours 45 minutes (2)9 hours 45 minutes
(3)8 hours 15 minutes (4)9 hours 15 minutes

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 KEY

1) 4 2) 3 3) 4 4) 2 5) 3 6) 4 7) 1 8) 1 9) 2 10) 3

11)3 12) 2 13) 1 14) 3 15) 4 16) 2 17) 1 18) 4 19) 1 20) 3

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 CHAPTER 14
CALENDAR
1. INTRODUCTION:
Suppose you are asked to find the day of the week on 30th June, 1974, it would be a
tough job to find if you do not know the method. The questions based on calendars are
sometimes asked in the competitive exams. The method of finding the day of the week lies in
the number of “odd days”. Hence, logic says divide the total numbers of days by 7 and the
remainder will be called odd days.
Example: 52 days = 7 completed weeks + 3 extra days = 3 odd days.
1.1 Leap and Ordinary Year:
Non-leap year has 365 days whereas a leap year has one day extra because of 29 days
in the month of February. Every year which is divisible by 4 is called a leap year. Leap year
consists of 366 days, (52 completed weeks + 2 days), the extra two days are the odd days. So,
a leap year has two odd days.
An ordinary year consists of 365 days (52 completed weeks +1 day), the extra one day
is the odd day. So, an ordinary year has one odd day.
Note: Every century, which is a multiple of 400, is a leap year.
Example: 400,800, 1200, 1600 .......are leap years.
1.2 Counting the number of Odd Days:
100 years consist of 24 leap years + 76 ordinary years. (100 years when divided by 4, we get
25 leap years but 25th i.e., the 100th year is not a leap year, hence only 24 leap years)
=2x24 odd days + 1x76 odd days
=124 days =17 weeks +5 days
The extra 5 days are the number of odd days.
So, 100 years contain 5 days.
Similarly, for 200 years we have an extra of 10 days (1 week +3 days).
So, 200 years contain 3 odd days.
Similarly, 300 years we have an extra of 15 days (2 weeks +1 day).
So, 300 years contain 1 odd day.
Similarly, for 400 years we have an extra of 20 days and 400 year is leap year hence adding
one extra day. So, total days is 21 days (3 weeks +0 day).
So, 400 years contain 0 odd days.

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Day Code:

Number of
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
odd days
Day Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Month Code:

Number
of odd 3 0,1 3 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 2 3
days
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Century Code:
100 years = 5 odd days
200 years = 3 odd days
300 years = 1 odd day
400 years = 0 odd days
500 years = 400 years + 100 years = 0 odd days + 5 odd days = 5 odd days
600 years = 400 years + 200 years = 0 odd days + 3 odd days = 3 odd days
700 years = 400 years + 300 years = 0 odd days + 1 odd days = 1 odd day
800 years = 400 years + 400 years = 0 odd days + 0 odd days = 0 odd days
900 years = 800 years + 100 years = 0 odd days + 5 odd days = 5 odd days
1000 years = 800 years + 200 years = 0 odd days + 3 odd days = 3 odd days
1100 years = 800 years + 300 years = 0 odd days + 1 odd days = 1 odd day
1200 years = 800 years + 400 years = 0 odd days + 0 odd days = 0 odd days
Similarly,
1900 years = 1600 years + 300 years = 0 odd days + 1 odd days = 1 odd day

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 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: What day of the week was 18th April 1901?

SOLUTION: 18th April 1901= (1600+300) years +1st Jan to 18th April 1901

From the above, 1600 years have = 0 odd days

100years have = 5 odd days

300 years have = 5×3 =15 days = 2weeks + 1day= 1 odd day

The number of days from 1st Jan 1901 to 18th April 1901 is (31+28+31+18)

=108days

108days = (15 weeks completed + 3 extra days) = 3 odd days

Total number of odd days = (1600+300) years +1st Jan to 18th April 1901

= 0+1+3 = 4 odd days.

Hence, 18th April 1901 is Thursday

EXAMPLE 2: What was the day in the week 28th Jan 1953?

SOLUTION: From the given data, 28th Jan 1953=1952 years+28 days

28th Jan 1953=1600 years+300years+52years

We know that, odd days in 1600 years = 0 odd days;

Odd days in 300 years = l odd day

Leap year can be divisible by 4.

So, 52 years = 13 leap years + 39 ordinary years

(.‘. leap year = 2 odd days and ordinary year = 1 odd day)

= ((13 × 2) + (39 × I)) days = 65 odd days

65 odd days = (9 weeks completed + 2 extra days) = 2 odd days in the year 1952

1st Jan 1953 to 28jan 1953 = 28days

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 28days = (4weeks completed + 0 odd days) = 0 odd days

Total number of days = 1600 years+300years+52years+28 days

= 0+1+2+0 = 3 odd days

So, the required day is Wednesday.

EXAMPLE 3: Smt. Indira Gandhi died on 31st October, 1984. The day of the week was:

SOLUTION: 31st October 1983 = 1600 years + 300 years + 83 years

Odd days in 1600 years=0 odd day

Odd days in 300 years=l odd day

Odd days in 83 years = 20 leap years+63 ordinary years

= (20 x 2) +(63 x 1) = 40 + 63 = 103 days

103 days = 14 weeks+5 odd days=5 odd days

Period from 1st Jan 1984 to 31st Oct 1984

= Jan+ Feb + Mar + Apr + May + Jun + July + Aug + Sept +Oct

= 31 + 29 + 31 + 30 + 31 + 30 + 31 +3l +30+31=305 days

305 days = (43 weeks+4 odd days) = 4 odd days

Total number of odd days = 0+1+5+4 = 10 odd days

10 days =1 week+3 odd days =3 odd days

31st October 1984 was Wednesday.

EXAMPLE 4: Today is Thursday, after 64 days it will be.

SOLUTION: Every day of the week is repeated after 7 days.

Hence after 63 days, it would be Thursday.

After 64 days, it will be Friday.

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EXAMPLE 5: Today is Friday, after 67 days it will be.

SOLUTION: Every day of week is repeated after 7 days.

Hence after 63 days, it would be Friday again and after 66 days It would be

Monday.

After 67 days it will be Tuesday.

EXAMPLE 6: The calendar of year 1856 is same as which year?

SOLUTION: Given year 1856, when divided by 4 leaves a remainder of 0.

Hint: When remainder is 0, 28 is added to the given year to get the result.

So, 1856 + 28 = 1884.

EXAMPLE 7: Which year have the same calendar as that of 2005?

SOLUTION: Year: 2005+2006+2007+2008+2009+2010

Odd days: 1+1+1+2+1+1 = 7 odd days

So, the total number of odd days from 2005 to 2010 are 7 = 0 Odd days

2011 will have the same calendar as that of 2005.

EXAMPLE 8: On what dates of march 2005 did Sunday fall?

SOLUTION: calculate the dates of 1st march 2005

1600+400+5years

(2004+period from 1.1.2005 to 1.3.2005)

Odd days in year of 1600 = 0 Odd Day; Odd days in year of 400 = 0 Odd day

4years = (1 Leap year + 3 Ordinary years) = (1x 2) + (3 x1) = 5 Odd days

Jan + Feb + Mar = 31 + 28 + I= 60 Days

60 Days = (8 weeks + 4 odd days) = 4 odd days

Total number of odd days = 0 + 0 + 5 + 4 = 9 odd days

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 9 odd days= (1 week + 2 odd days) = 2 odd days

1.3.2005 was Tuesday.

So, Sunday lies on 6.3.2003 Sunday lies on 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th of March, 2005.

EXAMPLE 9: January 1st, 2009 Thursday. What day of the week lies on Jan 1, 2010?

SOLUTION: The year 2010 is an ordinary year. So it has 1 odd day

1st day of the year 2009 was Thursday.

1st day of the year 2010 will be 1 day beyond Thursday.

Hence, it will be Friday.

EXAMPLE 10: January 1, 1992 was a Wednesday. What day of the week will it be on January

1, 1993.

SOLUTION: 1992 begins in a leap year, it has 2odd days

So, the first day of the year 1993 will be two days beyond Wednesday

i.e., it will be Friday.

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 EXERCISE

1. Which among the following years is a leap year?

(1)2600 (2) 2700 (3) 2800 (4) 3000
2. How many odd days are there in 328 days ?
(1) 4 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 6
3. What day of the week was 18th July 1978?
(1)Sunday (2) Monday (3) Tuesday (4) Friday
4. What day of the week would be 26th March 2023?
(1) Sunday (2) Monday (3) Tuesday (4) Friday
5. If August 15th 2003 is on Friday, then on which day of the week would the Independence
Day
be celebrated in the year 2103?
(1) Tuesday (2)Wednesday (3) Friday (4) Sunday
6. On which dates of March, 2008 will a Sunday come?
(1)2,9,16,23,30, (2) 1,8,15,22,29 (3) 7,14,21,28 (4) 3,10,17,24,31
7. If 26th February, 2014 is on Wednesday, then what day of the week is on 14th July 2017?
(1) Friday (2) Saturday (3) Wednesday (4) Sunday
8. If 4th August 1996 was a Sunday, then what day of the week was 23rd August 1959?
(1) Sunday (2) Monday (3) Friday (4) Tuesday
9. Which year will have the same calendar as that of 2002?
(1) 2008 (2) 2011 (3) 2009 (4) 2013
10. Which year will have the same calendar as that of 2008?
(1) 2014 (2) 2024 (3) 2032 (4) 2036
11.The last day of a century cannot be
(1) Monday (2)Wednesday (3)Tuesday (4)Friday
12.Today is monday.After 61 days,it will be
(1) wed (2)sat (3)Tue (4)Thursday
13.The calendar for the year 2003 will be the same for the year
(1)2014 (2)2016 (3)2017 (4)2018
14.On which dates of march 2005 did Friday fall
(1)4,11,18,25 (2)5,12,19,26 (3)6,13,20,27 (4)1,8,15 ,22
15.Jan Ist 2007 was Monday.what day of the week lies on jan Ist 2008
(1)mon day (2)tuesday (3)Wednesday (4)Sunday

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 KEY

1) 3 2) 4 3) 3 4) 1 5) 2 6) 1 7) 1 8) 1 9) 4 10) 4

11) 3 12) 2 13) 1 14) 1 15) 2

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 CHAPTER 15
CUBES AND DICES
1. INTRODUCTION:
A Cube is a three-dimensional square. It has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 corners. All the
faces are of equal dimensions. A Cuboid, on the other hand, is a three-dimensional rectangle.
Opposite faces of a cuboid are of equal dimensions.
The questions that are frequently asked can be classified into three categories:
1. Cutting a cube in order to get the maximum number of identical pieces.
2. Finding the least number of cuts required to cut a given cube into a given number of
identical pieces.
3. Painting the different faces of a cube.
In order to get the maximum number of identical pieces after cutting a cube the given
number of times, we have to cut the cube on all three-directions name X-Axis, Y-Axis and Z-
Axis as much as possible equally. The difference in the number of cuts between any two
directions should be least.
In order to find the least number of cuts required to cut a cube into a given number of identical
pieces, we have to first find the number of identical pieces lined up on each direction. Because
if we know the number of identical pieces on all three directions then we can easily find the
number of cuts made on each direction simply by subtracting one from the number of pieces.
In order to count the number of smaller cubes which are painted on given number of
smaller faces, we divide the larger into four sections.
Section 1 consists of the smaller cubes which have exactly three externally visible faces which
will be at the corners.
Section 2 consists of the smaller cubes which have exactly two externally visible faces which
will be on the edges (but excluding the corners).
Section 3 consists of the smaller cubes which have exactly one externally visible face which
will be in the middle part of each larger face.
Section 4 consists of the smaller cubes which have no externally visible faces which will be
hidden inside the larger cube.
1.1 CUBE:
A cube is a three-dimensional figure, having 8 corners, 6 surface and 12 edges in each.

• In a cube length, breadth and height are same while in cuboid these are different.

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 • In a cube the number of unit cubes = (side) 3.
• In cuboid the number of unit cube = (l*b*h).

After cutting a cube following type of smaller cubes are obtained.

• Corner cubes = S (exist at the middle of each corner).

• Middle cubes = M (exist at the middle of each edge).
• Central cubes = C (exist at the middle at each face).
• Nuclear cube/Inner central cube = N (hidden and exist at the center of the largest cube).

1.2 NUMBER OF CUBES WHEN A LARGE CUBE IS PAINTED AND CUT:

If a cube is painted on all of its surfaces with the same colour and then cut into smaller
cubes of smaller cubes, so obtained will be calculated as under. If a cube is painted on all of
its surfaces with the same colour and then cut into smaller cubes of smaller cubes, so obtained
will be calculated as under.

• n= Length of edge of bigger cube / Length of edge of smaller cube

• Number of smaller cubes =n3.
• Number of smaller cubes with three surfaces painted = number of corners 8.
• Number of smaller cubes with two surfaces painted = (n-2) × number of edges =(n-2)
×12.
• Number of smaller cubes with one surface painted = (n-2)2 × number of surfaces = (n-
2)2 ×6.
• Number of smaller cubes with no surface painted = (n-2)3.
• Here, n = Number of parts on an edge of the bigger cube after division.

Generally, paintings of the big cube can be classified as

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 • All the surfaces of the cube with the same colour.
• All surfaces of the cube with different colours.
• Two pairs of opposite surfaces of the cube are painted.
• Only one pair of opposite surfaces of the cube are painted.
• Two pairs of adjacent surfaces of the cube are painted.
• One pair of adjacent surfaces of the cube are painted.

1.3 DICE:
Dices are three dimensional figures, which can be either cubes or cuboids. A Dice is a
cube. In a cube, there are six faces. Let us study some basic facts about cube using the given
figure.

• The six faces in the cube are ABCG, GCDE, DEFH, BCDH, AGEF and ABHF.
• Always four faces are adjacent to one face. There are pairs of opposing faces e.g.
Opposite of DEFH is ABCG and so on. CDEG is the upper face of the cube. ABHF is
the bottom face of the cube.

1.4 IMPORTANT FACTS:

1. A Cube has 6 square faces or sides.
2. A Cube has 8 points (vertices) and a cube has 12 edges.
3. Only 3 sides of a cube are visible at a time (known as “ Joint sides”) and these sides
can never be on the opposite side of each other.
4. Things that are shaped like a cube are often reffered to as ‘cubic’.
5. Most dice are cube shaped, with the numbers 1 to 6 on the different faces.

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1.5 IMPORTANT RULES TO SOLVE A DICE TEST QUESTIONS:

• When two dice have same surface and one of the number/elements is common in both
the dices than the remaining surfaces of the dice will have opposite elements in them.
• For example, if two dice have number 4 as a common element and 3,5 on one dice
and 1,2 on the surface of the other dice then both 3,5 and 1,2 are opposite to each other.
• If there are two numbers in the dices that are same irrespective of their position on the
dice then the third number left in both the dices will be opposite to each other.
• When there is one element common to both the dices which have different surface
areas then rotate the dices in a clockwise direction so that you can find out the opposite
surface.

1.6 FORMATION OF DICES:

Case 1: In this case 1 lies opposite to 5; 2 lies opposite to 4; and 3 lies opposite to 6.

Case 2: In this case 1 lies opposite to 3; 2 lies opposite to 4; and

Case 3: In this case 1 lies opposite to 5; 2 lies opposite to 4; and

136
Case 4: In this case 1 lies opposite to 4; 3 lies opposite to 6; and 2 lies opposite to 5.

Case 5: In this case 1 lies opposite to 5; 2 lies opposite to 4; and

Case 6: In this case 1 lies opposite to 4; 3 lies opposite to 5; and 2 lies opposite to 6.

Case 7: In this case 1 lies opposite to 3; 2 lies opposite to 5; and 4 lies opposite to 6.

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 PRACTICE

EXAMPLE 1: Study the different positions of a cube as given below. Which numbers will
occur on the face opposite to 4?

SOLUTION: From Fig. 1,5, and 3 exist with 1

From Fig. 2,5, and 3 exist with 4

From (1) and (2), 1 will be the opposite of 4.

EXAMPLE 2: Two positions of a dice are shown below. When four dots are at the top, then
how many will be at the bottom?

SOLUTION: We know that, generally, in a dice, the dots lying on the opposite faces have a
sum of 7. They can be only in 1-6, 3-4, and 2-5 dots combinations and their sum is only 7.
Thus, it is clear that 1 dot face will lie opposite to a face with 6 dots. Face with 2 dots is opposite
to 5 dots and face with 4 dots lie opposite to face with 3 dots. If a face with four dots is at the
top, the opposite face at the bottom will have 3 dots.

EXAMPLE 3: Which option has boxes that are similar to the box made from the given sheet
of paper (10).

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SOLUTION: When the sheet in the Fig is folded to form a hollow box, then the face that
features is opposite to the face which is blank, another blank face is opposite to the face that
features with a ‘!’ sign, and the third blank face is opposite to the face with a triangle on it.
Therefore, all the hollow cubes shown in all the four figures are possible.

EXAMPLE 10: According to given figure of dice, which option is correct.

SOLUTION: In figure (a), 2 and 4, in figure (b) 6 and 5 and in figure (D) 6 and 5 are shown
adjacent to each other. So, these dice are not possible. Hence, only dice (c) can be formed.

Directions (5-10): All the surfaces of a cube of 30cm side are painted with red colour and then
it is cut into smaller cubes of 6cm side. Then,
EXAMPLE 5: How many smaller cubes are there having only one surface painted with red
colour?

SOLUTION: N = Side of bigger cube/ Side of smaller cube = 30/6=5

Required number of smaller cubes = 6 × (n-2)2 = 6 × (5-2)2 = 6 x 9 = 54.

EXAMPLE 6: How many smaller cubes are there having two surfaces painted with red colour?

SOLUTION: Required number of cubes = 12 × (5-2) = 12 × 3 = 36.

EXAMPLE 7: How many smaller cubes are there having only three surfaces painted with red
colour?

SOLUTION: As cubes with three faces painted are always 8.

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EXAMPLE 8: How many smaller cubes are there having 4 or more faces painted with red
colour?

SOLUTION: As the number of cubes with four or more faces painted is 0.

EXAMPLE 9: many smaller cubes are there having no surfaces painted with red colour?
SOLUTION: Required number of cubes=(n-2)3 = (5-2)3 = 33 = 27.

EXAMPLE 10: How many smaller cubes are obtained from larger cube?

SOLUTION: Total number of smaller cubes = n3 = 53 = 125.

EXAMPLE 11: A cube 3d, painted yellow on all sides is cut into 27 little solid cubes of
equivalent size. what number of little 3d squares are painted on one single size?

SOLUTION: The big cube can be cut into 27 small cubes as shown below:

Clearly, out of these 27 small cubes, the cube having only one side painted are those
which lie at the centre of each face of the big cube. Since there are 6faces of a cube, the required
number of cubes are 6.

Directions (12-13): A painter is given a task to paint a cubical box with six different colours
for different faces of the cube. A detailed account of it was given as

1. Red face should lie between Yellow and Brown face.

2. Green face should be adjacent to the Silver face.
3. Pink face should lie adjacent to the Green face.
4. Yellow face should lie adjacent to the Brown one.
5. Brown face should down

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 6. Silver and Pink face should lie opposite to each other.

The above colour scheme is shown in the following figure:

EXAMPLE 12: The face opposite to Red is

SOLUTION: From statement (V): Brown colour is at the bottom i.e., on the face 6.

From statement (V): Yellow colour is opposite to brown. So, it lie on face 5

Let Green colour say on LHS face i.e., on the face 4; then Pink colour lies

adjacent to Green.

So, it lies on RHS face i.e., on face 2. The remaining face i.e., (rear face) face 3

gets the Red

colour. This also satisfies statement (i). Red colour is on face 3.

The face opposite to the Red face is face 1 which has Green colour.

EXAMPLE 13: The face adjacent to Green are

SOLUTION: From statement (V): Brown colour is at the bottom i.e., on the face 6.

From statement (V): Yellow colour is opposite to brown. So it lie on face 5.

Let Green colour say on LHS face i.e., on the face 4; then Pink colour lies

adjacent to Green.

So, it lies on RHS face i.e., on face 2. The remaining face i.e., (rear face) face 3

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 gets the Red

colour. This also satisfies statement (i). From the figure, it is clear that Red face

lie opposite to

Green face. So, the faces adjacent to Green are Pink, Silver, Yellow, and Brown.

EXAMPLE 14: Among the four alternatives which one cannot be the similar box as the
question figure

(a) (b) (c) (d)

SOLUTION: In option (b) “?” and “L” are adjacent to each other, which cannot be possible.

EXAMPLE 15: How many cube dots lie opposite the face having three dots, when the given
figure is folded to from a cube?

SOLUTION: The given figure is similar to form 4. Therefore, when this figure is folded to

form a cube then the face bearing six dots will lie opposite the face bearing three dots.

EXAMPLE 16: From the four position of a dice given below, find the color which is opposite

to yellow?

SOLUTION: The colours adjacent to yellow are orange, blue, red and rose.

Hence violet will be opposite to yellow

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EXAMPLE 17: How many small cubes will have two faces colored with red and green colors

and Other faces of the small cube should be colored or blank.

SOLUTION: Cubes painted red and green on two sides will be along the left and right side (
5 cm length each) of the top and the bottom face. Thus no. of such cubes = 5 x 4 = 20
EXAMPLE 18: Which symbol will be on the face opposite to the face with symbol*?

SOLUTION: The symbol of the adjacent faces to the face with the symbol * are @, -. + and

$. Hence the required symbol is 8.

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 EXERCISE

1. 125 small but identical cubes have been put together to form a large cube. How many more
such small cubes will be required to cover this large cube completely.
a.208 b. 212 c. 218 d. 224
2. What is the maximum number of identical pieces a cube can be cut into by 3 cuts?
a.9 b. 8 c. 7 d. 6
3. What is the maximum number of identical pieces a cube can be cut into by 14 cuts?
a.10 b. 12 c. 16 d. 5
4. A cube is cut parallel to one face by making 10 cuts such that all the resulting pieces are
identical. What is the maximum number of identical pieces that can be obtained now by making
2 more cuts in any direction?
a.33 b. 40 c. 55 d. 44
5. What is the maximum number of identical pieces a cube can be cut into by 13 cuts?
a.120 b. 140 c. 180 d. 150
6. What is the least number of cuts required to cut a cube into 24 identical pieces.
a.2 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8
Directions (7 – 10): 125 small but identical cubes have been put together to form a large cube.
This larger cube is now painted in all 6 faces.
7. How many of the smaller cubes have no faces painted at all.
a.27 b. 64 c. 8 d. 36
8. How many of the smaller cubes have exactly one face painted.
a.49 b. 54 c. 64 d. 72
9. How many of the smaller cubes have exactly two faces painted.
a.25 b. 16 c. 24 d. 36
10. How many of the smaller cubes have exactly three faces painted.
a.4 b. 8 c. 9 d. 27
Directions (11 – 16): Three different faces of a cube are painted in three different colors – Red,
Green and Blue. This cube is now cut into 216 smaller but identical cubes.
11. What is the least number of smaller cubes that will have exactly 3 faces painted.
a.0 b. 6 c. 2 d. 12
12. How many of the smaller cubes have exactly 2 faces painted.
a.12 b. 15 c. 16 d. either 1 or 2

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13. What are the least and the largest numbers of small cubes that have exactly 1 face painted.
a.75 & 86 b. 64 & 81 c. 64 & 72 d. 75 & 84
14. What is the least number of small cubes that have exactly 1 face painted Red and no other
face painted.
a.12 b. 18 c. 24 d. 36
15. What is the maximum number of smaller cubes that will have exactly 1 face painted Green
and 1 face Blue and no other face painted.
a.2 b. 4 c. 6 d. 8
16. What is the least & the maximum number of cubes that have no face painted at all.
a.125 & 130 b. 120 & 125 c. 115 & 120 d. 100 & 125
Directions (17 – 21) are based on the information given below:
A cuboid shaped wooden block has 6 cm length, 4 cm breadth and 1 cm height.
Two faces measuring 4 cm x 1 cm are colored in black.
Two faces measuring 6 cm x 1 cm are colored in red.
Two faces measuring 6 cm x 4 cm are colored in green.
The block is divided into 6 equal cubes of side 1 cm (from 6 cm side), 4 equal cubes of side 1
cm (from 4 cm side).
17.How many cubes having red, green and black colors on at least one side of the cube will be
formed?
a. 16 b. 12 c. 10 d. 4
18.How many small cubes will be formed?
a. 6 b. 12 c. 16 d. 24
19.How many cubes will have 4 colored sides and two non-colored sides?
a. 8 b. 4 c. 16 d. 10
20.How many cubes will have green color on two sides and rest of the four sides having no
color?
a. 12 b. 10 c. 8 d. 4
21.How many cubes will remain if the cubes having black and green colored are removed?
a. 4 b. 8 c. 12 d. 16
Directions (22–26): There is a cube in which one pair of adjacent faces is painted red; the
second pair of adjacent faces is painted blue and a third pair of adjacent faces is painted green.
This cube is now cut into 216 smaller but identical cubes.
22. How many small cubes are there with no red paint at all?
a.144 b.150 c.125 d.130

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23. How many small cubes are there with atleast two different colors on their faces?
a.64 b.54 c.33 d.44
24. How many small cubes are there with one face painted red?
a.64 b.81 c.60 d.100
25. How many small cubes are with both red and green on their faces?
a.8 b.12 c.16 d.32
26. How many small cubes are there showing only green or only blue on their faces?
a.64 b.72 c.81 d.90
27. Three different positions of a dice are shown below. How many dots lie opposite 2 dots?

a.1 b.3 c.5 d.6

28. The six faces of a dice have been marked with alphabets A, B, C, D, E and F respectively.
This dice is rolled down three times. The three positions are shown as:

a.C b.D c.E d.F

29. Three positions of a dice are given. Based on them find out which number is found opposite
the number 2 in the given cube.

a.6 b.5 c.3 d.1

30. Choose the box that is similar to the box formed from the given sheet of paper (X).

a.1 and 2 only b.2,3 and 4 only c.4 only d.3 and 4 only.

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 KEY

1) C 2) B 3) B 4) D 5) D 6) C 7) A 8) B 9) D 10) B

11) A 12) D 13) D 14) C 15) C 16) B 17) D 18) D 19) B 20) C

21) D 22) B 23) D 24) C 25) C 26) B 27) C 28) C 29) A 30) D

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 CHAPTER 16
PUZZLE TEST
1. INTRODUCTION:
In these questions we will ask to arrange people or things in linear rows, vertical rows,
around a circular table or hexagonal etc. Sometimes we will be asked to make selections from
a team of players based on a given criteria. While making a linear arrangement we generally
assume that everybody in the row is facing the same direction unless and until it is given
otherwise. In the case of circular arrangement, we assume that everybody around the circle is
positioned in such a way that they face the Centre of the circle so that the clock-wise direction
becomes the left-hand side and the anti-clock wise direction becomes the right-hand side for
all the people.
The positions of some people will be fixed but the positions of others will remain an
unknown with more than one possible position. From the given data we may not always get a
unique arrangement. Most times we get more than one possible arrangement. To find all the
possible arrangements is the challenge.

1.1 PUZZLE TEST:

These questions are based on the different numbers. This type of problem having figure
which follows a particular rule for their different number. We have then asked to find a missing
number by using same rule. Puzzle Test classified into 2 types. They are

1. Number Puzzle Test

2. Data based Puzzle Test (Group Reasoning)

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 PRACTICE

EXAMPLE 1: What number should replace the question mark?

SOLUTION: Looking at lines of numbers from the top: 9×8 = 72; 72×8 = 576; 576×8 = 4608.

Hence, Answer is zero.

EXAMPLE 2: What number should replace the question mark?

SOLUTION: 85 ÷ 17 = 5, 76 ÷ 19 = 4, Similarly 91 ÷ 13 = 7.

Hence, Answer is 7.

EXAMPLE 3: What number should replace the question mark?

SOLUTION: (47 + 63) ÷ 2 = 55, (85 + 99) ÷ 2 = 92, Similarly (73 + 25) ÷ 2 = 49,

Hence, Answer is 49.

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EXAMPLE 4: What number should replace the question mark?

SOLUTION: 9x8 = 72, 7x4 = 28,

Similarly, 6x9 = 54(reading down the middle two blocks).

Hence, Answer is 4.

EXAMPLE 5: What number should replace the question mark?

SOLUTION: (16 +12) ÷ 2 = 14;

(21+9) ÷ 2 =15;

(10+x) ÷ 2= 16 ⇒ x = 22

Hence, Answer is 22.

EXAMPLE 6: What number should replace the question mark?

SOLUTION: Multiply the bottom two numbers then take the square root,

i.e., 3×12 = 36 and √36 = 6, 2×8 = 16 and √16 = 4,

Similarly, 1×4 = 4 and √4 = 2.

Hence, Answer is 1.

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EXAMPLE 7: What number should replace the question mark?

SOLUTION: √169 + √64 + √81 = 13+8+9 = 30; √1296 + √576 + √100 = 36+24+10 = 70;

Similarly, √625 + √x + √49 = 50

25+√x +7 = 50 ⇒ √x+32 = 50 ⇒√x = 18

Both sides apply on square

x = 324. Hence, Answer is 324.

EXAMPLE 8: What number should replace the question mark?

8 27 6 21

54 24 42 18

9 30 5 ?
60 27 ? ?

SOLUTION: Top left a third of bottom right, bottom rights is three less than top right and top
right

is half of bottom left.

i.e., 8×3 = 24,24+3=27,27*2=54, 6×3 = 18,18+3=21,21*2=42,

9×3 = 27,27+3=30,30*2=60, Similarly, 5×3 = 15,15+3=18,18*2=36.

Hence, Answer is 18, 36, 15.

EXAMPLE 9: What goes into the empty square?

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SOLUTION: Each number in the bottom rows is the sum of the number above it and the

previous number. i.e., 0+7=7, 7+2=9, 2+4=6, similarly 4+12=16. Hence, Answer is 16.

Directions: Read the information given below and answer the questions following it: In a
Coaching Institute, seven students (both girls and boys) sit on three different benches, Bench@,
Bench * and Bench #

• Each bench must have atleast two students sitting on it

• Atleast one girl must be sitting on each bench
• X, who is a girl, does not sit with Y, Z and T.
• S is a boy student and sits only with M.
• Y sits on the Bench @ with his best friends.
• H sits on Bench #. Z is the brother of X.

EXAMPLE 10: Which of the following pair of students form the correct set of students sitting
on the bench *?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

Bench @ Y Z T

Bench * M S

Bench # H X

Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is M, S.

Directions (11-12): Read the information given below carefully and answer the following
questions: Eleven friends Manish, Nitin, Om, Piyush, Qureshi, Ritesh, Satish, Tarun, Utkarsh,
Varun and Wasim are sitting in the first row of the stadium watching a football match.

• To the immediate left of Piyush is Tarun and Tarun is third to the right of
Utkarsh
• Varun is the immediate neighbour of Manish and Nitin and third to the left
of Satish
• Manish is the second to the right of Qureshi, who is at one of the ends
• Ritesh is sitting to the immediate right of Piyush

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 • Om is second to left of Piyush.

EXAMPLE 11: Who sits third to the right of Satish?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

Qureshi Wasim Manish Varun Nitin Utkarsh Satish Om Tarun Piyush Ritesh

Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Piyush.

EXAMPLE 12: What is the position of Nitin with respect to Utkarsh?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

Qureshi Wasim Manish Varun Nitin Utkarsh Satish Om Tarun Piyush Ritesh

Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Immediate Left.

Directions (13-14): Study the data given below and answer the questions following it: In an
exhibition seven brands have put up their stalls

• Each of these stalls are facing east

• The seven brands which have put up a stall include: Titan, Biba, Landmark,
Adidas, Puma, Zara and Reebok
• Titan is next to the right of Reebok
• Reebok is fourth to the right of Landmark
• Adidas is between Biba and Zara
• Landmark which is third to the left of Biba, is at one end.

EXAMPLE 13: Which of the pairs is correct for the brands displayed at the two ends of the
line?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

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 Landmark

Zara

Adidas

Biba

Reebok

Titan

Puma

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Landmark, Puma

EXAMPLE 14: What is the position of Nitin with respect to Utkarsh?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Immediate Left.

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 EXERCISE
Directions (1-4): These questions are based on the following data.
Seven men A, B, C, D, E, F and G have parked their cars in a row. The cars of E and F should
be next to each other. The cars of D and G should be parked next to each other. Whereas A and
B cannot park their cars next to each other, but B and D must park their cars next to each other
and C’s car is parked to the immediate right of G’s car.
1. If A’s car is not next to C’s car, then what is the position of A’s car from the right end of the
row?
(a)1st (b)7th (c)5th (d)1st or 7th
2. If F does not park his car next to A’s, which is parked in the left extreme, then which of the
following men can park their cars between the cars of E and G?
(a)G, C and B (b)A, F and C (c)F, G and C (d)F, B and D
3. If A parks his car to the immediate right of C’s, then which of the following cars can be
parked the left extreme end?
(a)Only E (b)Only F (c)Only E or F (d)E or F or B
4. If E parks his car to the left of F, then which of the following statements must be false?
a) There are two cars between B’s and G’s (b)B and C’s cars are not parked together
(c)G’s car is the only car in between D’s and C’s (d)A’s car is at the left extreme end
Directions (5-9): These questions are based on the following data.
Eight chairs are arranged in a room. Four of them are exactly at the four corners while
the remaining four are placed against the walls on the four sides in between each pair of chairs
in the corners. P, Q, R and S are four boys and A, B, C, D are four girls who occupy the chairs
all of which are facing the center of the room. Q is in a corner chair and R is in a chair which
is not along the same wall as either of the walls adjoining Q. A and C are seated at corners,
diagonally opposite to each other. B does not sit along any wall which is adjacent to the corner
where A sits and is opposite to P. C sits to the immediate right of R, who is between C and D.
5. S must be seated between
(a)C and Q (b)A and D (c)A and Q (d)C and A
6. If S and P interchange their seats, then who is to the immediate left of D?
(a)A (b)P (c)R or C (d)S
7. Which of the following is not one of the correct arrangements of the corner seat occupants,
either in clock-wise or anti clock-wise direction consecutively?
(a)Q, A, D and C (b)A, Q, C, and D (c)D, A, Q and C (d)D, Q, A and C

155
8. Who sits to the immediate left of A?
(a)Q (b)R (c)D (d)S
9. P sits between
(a)A and D (b)D and C (c)C and Q (d)Cannot be determined
Directions (10-14): These questions are based on the following data.
Four men A, B, C, D and four women P, Q, R, S are dancing on a floor, in such a way that they
face the center and form a circle. No two women and no two men are next to each other. A is
to the immediate left of R, who is opposite to Q. P and Q have only C dancing between them.
P is dancing opposite to S, who is dancing to the immediate right of B.
10. If B is the only person dancing between R and S, then who is opposite to him?
(a)A (b)Q (c)C (d)D
11. Which of the following is an acceptable arrangement of the dancers in clockwise direction?
(a)C,Q,P,D,S,B,A,R (b)Q,C,P,D,R,A,S,B (c)A,R,D,P,C,Q,B,S
(d)D,R,A,S,B,Q,P,C
12. Which of the following persons are opposite each other?
(a)Q and R (b)B and Q (c)C and D (d)A and B
13. who is the only person dancing between P and R?
(a)B or C (b)S or A (c)A or D (d)D or C
14. If S is to the immediate left of A, then who is opposite C?
(a)A (b)B (c)D (d)M
Directions (15-16): These questions are based on the following data.
Ajay, Bony and Chetan are three persons who go to buy six items – P,Q,R,S,T and U. Each
one of them buys two different items in such a way that if Ajay buys R, then Bony buys neither
P nor S. If Bony buys Q, then Chetan buys neither U nor T.
15. If Ajay buys R and T, then Bony buys
(a)P and S (b)Q and U (c)P and Q (d)S and U
16. If Bony buys Q and S, then Ajay must buy
(a)P and R (b)T and U (c)P and T (d)R and U

156
 KEY

1) B 2) D 3) C 4) A 5) C 6) D 7) D 8) D 9) A 10) C

11) B 12) A 13) C 14) A 15) B 16) B

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 CHAPTER 17
SEATING ARRANGEMENT
1. INTRODUCTION:

Seating Arrangement questions are one of the most frequently asked questions in the
reasoning ability section for almost all placement drive exams. In this article, we have given
solved examples based on seating arrangement and the different types of questions which may
be framed based on this topic. For candidates who are new to this topic, they must first
understand the concept and then start solving the sample questions given below. To learn more
about the Seating Arrangement concept, tips and tricks, visit the linked article.

Before we move on to solving questions based on the seating arrangement, candidates

must go through the brief introduction regarding the concept of seating arrangement. In
reasoning ability, when a piece of information is given about a group of people and the manner
in which they are seated, such an arrangement is called a seating arrangement. This may be a
straight line, circular, rectangle, or any other arrangement in which people or things are placed.
A major part of the questions in the reasoning section is picked from this concept. Thus,
candidates must emphasize on its preparation and solve more and more questions based on the
same.

1.1 BENEFITS OF SEATING ARRANGEMENT:

• Practicing more seating arrangement questions will improve your speed and accuracy.
• Constant practice of various types will make you a specialist in the seating
arrangement topic.
• In mains, seating arrangement questions play an important role. To improve your
mains score you should practice more seating arrangement questions.
• If you have the ability to solve high seating arrangement questions with ease, then you
can lead the competition easily.
• Practicing the old seating arrangement questions will make you brighter in this topic.
• In this seating arrangement questions pdf download, you can practice various types
such as linear seating, square seating, triangular seating, etc.

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 PRACTICE
Directions (1-3): Study the information given below carefully and then answer the following
questions: Eight friends, namely, Kashish, Anamika, Amrita, Akansha, Trina, Yuvika,
Vanshika and Disha are sitting around a circular table and each of them is facing the centre.

• Kashish is 2nd to the right of Trina who is neighbour of Amrita & Vanshika
• Akansha is not the neighbour of Kashish
• Vanshika is the neighbour of Yuvika
• Anamika is not between Akansha and Disha
• Disha is not between Yuvika and Akansha
• Disha does not sit next to Kashish.

EXAMPLE 1: Who is sitting exactly opposite to Anamika?

SOLUTION: Based on the given data we can draw the diagram

Disha

Akansha Anamika

Yuvika Kashish

Vanshika Amritha

Trina

Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Vanshika.

EXAMPLE 2: How many people sit between Disha and Vanshika (counted anti-clockwise)?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Two.

EXAMPLE 3: Who sits third to the immediate right of Yuvika?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Vanshika.

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Directions (4-6): Eight persons namely J to Q are sitting on the square table but not necessarily
in the same order. Four persons are sitting at the corner of the table and facing away from the
centre. Four persons are sitting at the middle of the table and facing towards the centre. The
persons are sitting at the corner of the table likes different fruits among Banana, Apple, Grapes
and Mango. The persons are sitting at middle of the table likes different vegetables among
Cucumber, Brinjal, Beans and Cabbage. All the above information is not necessarily in the
same order. K sits third to the right of O. One person sits between K and Q. One who likes
Beans sits third to the left of Q. One who sits second to the right of the one who likes Beans is
facing N. One who likes Cabbage sits second to the right of the one who likes Cucumber. The
person J is the immediate neighbour of the one who like Brinjal and O. There are as many
persons sit between P and M as between P and L. One who likes Mango sits third to the right
of M. One who likes Beans and one who likes Mango are not immediate neighbours. J likes
Banana. L and one who like Apple are not immediate neighbours.

EXAMPLE 4: Who among the following likes Grapes?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

Cucumber
Mango L Grapes
Q K

N M
Cabbage Brinjal

P J
Apple O Banana
Beans

Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is K-Grapes.

EXAMPLE 5: Who among the following person sit opposite to O?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is "The one who like Cucumber
i.e., L", L sit opposite to O.

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EXAMPLE 6: Which among the following combination is true?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is N sits third to the right of the one
who like Banana.
Directions (7-9): Eight friends Hiram, Henry, Sofia, Paul, John, Betty, Rachel and Andrew are
reading different Sci-Fi novels Fugitive, Killer, Outlaw, Judgement, Shadowfell,
Shadowhunters, Legends, Scarlet. Four out of eight novels are written by one particular author
while rest four novels are not written by the same author. They are sitting around a circular
table and but not necessarily in same order and reading novels but not necessarily in same
order. People who are reading novel by same author face away from the table while others
don’t. John is sitting the second position to right of Betty and is reading Legends. Sofia is
sitting at the second position to the right of Rachel. Paul is reading Judgement and is sitting
third position to the right of Betty. Henry is reading Fugitive and is sitting opposite to that of
Hiram, who is facing away from the center. Betty is reading Shadowfell. The person reading
Legends is sitting at the second position to the left of the person who is reading Shadowhunters.
Rachel who is reading Outlaw, is sitting at the third position to the right of Henry and is reading
one of the novels by the same author. Both Paul and Henry are reading novels by same author.
Hiram is not reading Scarlet.

EXAMPLE 7: What is the position of Paul with respect to Rachel?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

John
(Legends)

Paul Henry
(Judgement) (Fugitive)

Sofia Betty
(Shadow hunters) (Shadow fell)

Hiram Andrew
(Killer) (Scarlet)
Rachel
(Outlaw)

Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is Third to the right.

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EXAMPLE 8: Who sits third to right of Andrew?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is John.

EXAMPLE 9: Which of the following novels is read by the person who sits opposite to
Andrew?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is Judgement.

Directions (10-12): Eight persons – Doly, Lali, Mona, Joya, Pinu, Usha, Chaya and Tara, are
sitting in a straight line but not necessarily in the same order such that some of these persons
are facing south while some are facing north. Doly faces north. Mona sits third to the left of
Usha. Pinu sits third to the right of Mona. Joya sits to the immediate right of Pinu. Joya does
not sit at any of the extreme ends of the line. Only one person sits between Chaya and Lali.
Pinu sits second to the left of Chaya. Tara sits second to the right of Joya. Both the immediate
neighbours of Mona face the opposite direction. Tara faces the same direction as Joya and Doly
faces the same direction as Chaya. Usha sits at one of the extreme ends of the line.

EXAMPLE 10: Who among the following is sitting second to the right of Mona?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

Tara Pinu Joya Chaya Mona Lali Doly Usha

Observe the above diagram Answer is Joya is sitting second to the right of Mona.

EXAMPLE 11: How many person(s) sit between Joya and Doly?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence,

Answer is three persons sit between Joya and Doly.

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EXAMPLE 12: How many persons are facing north direction?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is four persons are facing north
direction.
Directions (13-15): Read the information given below and answer the following questions: A
total of 10 people, 5 men and 5 women are sitting in two parallel lines, facing each other. Five
men, namely, Ajit, Bharat, Chirag, Dharam and Ejaz are facing to the south and the five women,
Meenal, Neelu, Octavia, Preeti and Arpita are facing towards the north.

• Bharat, who is just next to the left of Dharam, is opposite to Arpita.

• Chirag and Neelu are diagonally opposite to each other.
• Ejaz is opposite Octavia who is just next to Meenal.
• Preeti, who is just to the left of Arpita, is opposite to Dharam.
• Meenal is at one end of the line

EXAMPLE 13: Which two people are sitting at the two extreme ends of the line?

SOLUTION: Based on given data we can draw the diagram

Chirag Ejaz Dharam Bharat Ajit

Meenal Octavia Preeti Arpita Neelu

Observe the above diagram Hence, Answer is Ajit, Chirag.

EXAMPLE 14: Who is sitting right in front of Dharam?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is Preeti.

EXAMPLE 15: Who sits exactly in between Meenal and Neelu?

SOLUTION: Observe the above diagram hence, Answer is Cannot Be Determined.

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 EXERCISE

Directions (1-2): Five boys P, Q, R, S, T sit in a row. T is between R and Q P is between Q

and S, then

1. Who is between T and P?

A) Q B) R C) S D) None of these
2. Who is to the immediate right of T?
A) Q B) R C) S D) P
Directions (3-4): 6 persons A, B, C, D, E and F sit in a row facing north, “D” is third to the
right of A and second to the left of B. F is third to the left of E. then

3. who is between D and F?

A) E B) C C) B D) A
4. Who sits at the extreme ends?
A) A, F B) D, F C) A, B D) C, D
Directions (5-6): 7 persons A, B, C, D, E, F and G sit on a wall and all of them are facing East.
“C” is to the immediate right of D. B is at an extreme end and E as his neighbor. G is between
E and F. D is sitting third from the south end, then

5. Who sits at the extreme ends?

A) A, B B) F, G C) C, D D) E, G
6. Who is between D and G?
A) E B) F C) B D) C
Directions (7-10): 7 persons A, B, C, D, E, F and G sit on a bench and all of them facing south.
Two persons sit in between A and F, three persons sit in between C and G, four persons sit in
between B and E, A sits to the immediate right of G and immediate left of E. then

7. Who sits exactly in the middle of the row?

A) D B) F C) B D) G
8. The neighbors of B are?
A) E, G B) A, D C) F, C D) A, C
9. How many persons sit in between A and B?
A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4

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10. Six persons A, B, C, D, E and F sit in two rows, three on each side facing each other. “E”
sits not at the end of any row. “D” sits second to the left of “F” in the same row. “C” is the
neighbor of E and diagonally opposite to D. B is the neighbor of F, then who is facing A?

A) E B) F C) D D) B
11. Five persons A, B, C, D, and E sitting in a circle facing in the Centre. A is to the immediate
left of B. “C” is between B and D then who is to the immediate right of D?

A) E B) F C) C D) B
12. 6 persons A, B, C, D, E and F sitting in a circle facing in the Centre. A is between B and
C. D is between E & F. F is to the immediate left of “C” then who is to the immediate right of
B?

A) E B) F C) C D) D
13. 6 persons A, B, C, D, E and F sit around a rectangular table two persons sit on the longer
sides while one sits on each of the shorter side. B sits opposite to E, A sits opposite to D. “E”
sits in between A and C. F sits in between A and D. then two persons sit along the shorter side
is?

A) A, E B) B, D C) A, B D) F, C
Directions (14-15): 7 persons P, Q, R, S, T, U, V seated around a circular table. R is third to
the left of T and second to the right of “S” Q is immediately right of T and fourth to the left of
V. P is not next to T. then

14. Who is between S and R?

A) Q B) P C) T D) V
15. Who is between T and V?
A) Q B) P C) S D) U
Directions (16-18): 8 persons P, Q, R, S, T, U, V and W are seated around a circular table “S”
is to the immediate right of W. “V” is not next to either R or T. “W” is to the immediate right
of T who is sitting opposite to R. W is sitting opposite to U. then

16. Who is opposite to S?

A) P B) Q C) T D) V
17. Who is to the immediate right of U?
A) P B) Q C) T D) V

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18. Who is sitting second to the right of “W”?
A) P B) Q C) R D) Can’t be determined
Directions (19-20): 8 persons A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H sit around a square table two on each
side. C and G sit in between A and E, D and F sit in between B and H. B sits to the immediate
left of A. E sits to the right of C. G is opposite to F. then

19. Who sits between B and G?

A) A B) E C) C D) D
20. Who is third to the right of “D”?
A) A B) B C) C D) H

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 KEY

1) A 2) A 3) B 4) C 5) A 6) B 7) A 8) C 9) C 10) C

11) A 12) A 13) D 14) B 15) D 16) D 17) D 18) D 19) A 20) A

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 CHAPTER 18
DATA SUFFICIENCY
1. INTRODUCTION:
In this topic, we have to test whether the data given in the question is sufficient to find
the solution. If yes, what part of the data is just enough to answer the question. There may be
cases where all the data given problem together are not sufficient to arrive at the correct answer
and require some additional information for finding the solution. It is not required to find the
complete solution of the given question.
The section consists of problems in which a question on any topic such as Coding-
Decoding, Blood Relations, Puzzle Test, Direction Sense Test, Ranking and Time Sequence,
Arithmetical Reasoning etc. is given, followed by certain statements containing facts providing
clues to solve the question. The candidate is required to find out which of the given statement
is/are sufficient to answer the given question.

Each of the question below consists of a question and two statements numbered I & II
given below it. You have to decide whether the data provided in the statements are sufficient
to answer the question. Read both the statements and

Give answer (a) if the data in statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the
data in the statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question;

Give answer (b) if the data in statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the
data in the statement I alone are not sufficient to answer the question;

Give answer (c) if the data in either statement I or in statement II alone are sufficient to answer
the question;

Give answer (d) if the data in neither statement I nor in statement II are sufficient to answer the
question; and

Give answer (e) if the data in both the statements I and II together are necessary to answer the
question.

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 PRACTICE
EXAMPLE 1: How is Manick related to Nisha?

I. Manick is the only son of Nisha's mother-in-law.

II. Ritu is Manick's only sister.

SOLUTION: From I, we know that Manick is the only son of Nisha's mother-in-law i.e.

Manick is Nisha's husband.

However, the relation between Manick and Nisha cannot be deduced from II.

Thus, statement I alone is sufficient to answer the given question.

EXAMPLE 2: What day is the fourteenth of a given month?

I. The last day of the month is a Wednesday.

II. The third Saturday of the month was seventeenth.

SOLUTION: Clearly, statement II reveals that 17th was a Saturday and therefore, 14th was

Wednesday. However, the information given in I is not adequate to deduce the

same. So, statement II alone is sufficient to answer the given question.

EXAMPLE 3: What does 'ta' mean in a code language?

I. 'pa ta ja' means 'over and above' in that code language.

II. 'ho ka pa' means 'come over here' in that code language.

SOLUTION: Clearly, to find the code for 'ta', we need to have either only 'ta' or both 'pa' and

‘ja’ common in I and II. However, none of these conditions is fulfilled.

So, both statements I and II together are not sufficient to answer the given

question.

EXAMPLE 4: Among D, F, J, P and A who reached office last?

I. F and J reached office together.

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 II. Only D and P reached office ahead of J.

SOLUTION: From I and II, we conclude that only D and P reached office ahead of J and thus,

F. This implies that A reached last.

So, both statements I and II together are sufficient to answer the given question.

EXAMPLE 5: How is D related to A?

I. B is the brother of A.

II. B is D’s son.

SOLUTION: From I and II, we conclude that A is either son or daughter of D.

So, both statements I and II together are not sufficient to answer the given

question.

EXAMPLE 6: How is T related to K?

I. R’s sister J has married T’s brother L, who is the only son of his parents.

II. K is the only daughter of L and J.

SOLUTION: From I, we know that L is T's brother and J's husband. Since L is the only son

of his parents, T is L's sister. From II, we know that K is L's daughter.

Thus, from I and II, we conclude that T is the sister of K's father i.e., T is K’s

aunt.

So, both statement I and II together are sufficient to answer the given question.

EXAMPLE 7: How is ‘No’ coded in the code language?

I. ’Ne Pa Sic’ means ‘But No None’ and ‘Pa Le Ne’ means ‘If None But’.

II. ’Le Se Sic’ means ‘If No Will’ and ‘Le Pi Be’ means ‘Not If All’.

SOLUTION: In the two statements given in I, the common words are ‘But’, ‘None’ and

The common code words are ‘Ne’, ‘Pa’. So, in the first statement, ‘Sic’ is the

170
 code for ‘No’. However, statement II is not satisfied to answer the question.

So, data in statement I alone is sufficient to answer the given question.

EXAMPLE 8: In a row of five children A, B, C, D and E, who is standing in the middle?

I. D is to the immediate right of E and B is to the immediate left of E.

II. B is at the extreme left of the row.

SOLUTION: From I, we have the order: B, E, D. From II, B is at the extreme left of the row.

Thus, considering both I and II, we conclude that among the five children, D is

The third and hence the middle child in the row.

So, both statements I and II together are sufficient to answer the given question.

EXAMPLE 9: M, D, T and W are sitting around a circular table facing at the centre.

Who is to the immediate left of D?

I. M is between T and W and D is to the immediate left of T.

II. D is second to the left of M.

SOLUTION: From I, we get the following seating arrangement:

T W

Clearly, W is to the immediate left of D

So, data in statement I alone is sufficient to answer the given question.

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EXAMPLE 10: What is Suman's rank from the top in the class of 40 students?

I. Reena is 4 ranks below Suman and is thirty-first from the bottom.

II. Anuj is two ranks above Suman and is thirty-seventh from the bottom.

SOLUTION: From I, we conclude that Suman has (1+3+30) = 34 students below her in rank,

Namely Reena, 30 students below Reena and 3 students between Suman and

Reena. Thus, there are [40-(34+1)]= 5 students above Suman in rank. So, Suman

is 6th from the top. From II, we conclude that Anuj is 37th from the bottom i.e.

4th from the top. Since Anuj is two ranks above Suman, so Suman is 6th from

the top. Thus, either statement I alone or II alone is sufficient to answer the

given question.

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 EXERCISE

Directions (1-10): Each of the question below consists of a statement or a question and two
statements numbered I & II given below it. You have to decide whether the data provided in
the statements are sufficient to answer the question. Read both the statements and
Give answer (a) if the data in statement I alone are sufficient to answer the question, while the
data in the statement II alone are not sufficient to answer the question;
Give answer (b) if the data in statement II alone are sufficient to answer the question, while
the data in the statement I alone are not sufficient to answer the question;
Give answer (c) if the data in either statement I or in statement II alone are sufficient to answer
the question;
Give answer (d) if the data in neither statement I nor in statement II are sufficient to answer
the question; and
Give answer (e) if the data in both the statements I and II together are necessary to answer the
question.

1. Problem question: What is the value of (y - x)?

I. y – x = x – y
II. (y - x) = (y2 – x2)
2. Problem question: What will be total weight of 10 poles, each of the same weight?
I. ¼th of the weight of each pole is 5 kg.
II. The total weight of three poles is 20 kg more than the total weight of two poles.
3. Problem question: What Reena’s rank in the class?
I. There are 26 students in the class.
II. There are 9 students who have scored less than Reena.
4. Problem question: What is the monthly salary of Ramu?
I. Ramu gets 15% more than Sumit While Sumit gets 10% less than Lokesh.
II. Lokesh’s monthly salary is Rs.2500.
5. Problem question: What is the length of the diagonal of the rectangle?
I. The perimeter of the rectangle is 28 m.
II. Its area is 48 sq. m.
6. Problem question: The average age of P, Q, R and S is 30 years. How old is R?
I. The sum of ages of P and R is 60 years.
II. S is 10 years younger than R.

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7. Problem question: What is the ratio between the two numbers?
I. The sum of two numbers is twice their differences.
II. The smaller number is 6.
8. Problem question: What is the percent profit earned by selling the product?
I. The profit earned was Rs.50.
II. Had it been sold for Rs.310, the profit would have been Rs.70.
9. Problem question: By selling a product for Rs.100/-, how much profit was earned?
I. 20% profit would have been earned if it were sold for Rs.90.
II. The profit was 1/3rd of the purchase price.
10. Problem question: A and B are in a partnership business of one year. At the end of the
year, a profit of Rs.20000 was earned. What is A’s share?
I. A invested 50000/-.
II. B with draws his capital after 8 months.
Directions (11 - 20): Each of the questions below consists of a question and three statements
numbered I, II and III given below it. You have to study the questions and decide the data in
which of the statements are sufficient to answer the questions.
11. Problem question: What is the capacity of the cylindrical tank?
I. The are of the base is 61,600 sq.cm.
II. The height of the tank is 1.5 times the radius
III. The circumference of the base is 880 cm.
a. Only I and II b. Only II and III c. Only I and III
d. Any two of the three e. Only II and either I or III
12. Problem question: What Is the area of the given rectangle?
I. Perimeter of the rectangle is 60 cm.
II. Breadth of the rectangle is 12cm.
III. Sum of two adjacent sides is 30cm.
a. Only I and II b. Only II and III c. Only I and III
d. Any two of the three e. Only II and either I or III
13. Problem question: What is the speed of stream?
I. The boat covers 24 km in 6 hours moving upstream.
II. The boat covers 24 km in 3 hours moving downstream.
III. The ratio between the speed of boat and stream is 3:1 respectively.
a. Any two of three b. I and II only c. II and III only d. I and III only
e. All I,II,III.

174
14. Problem question: What is the speed of the train?
I. The train crosses a signal pole in 18 seconds.
II. The train crosses a platform of equal length in 36 seconds.
III. Length of the train is 330 meters.
a. I and II only b. II and III only c. I and III only. d. III and any of I and II
e. Any Two
15. Problem question: The central park has a spinning wheel with six equally spaced seats on
it, along the circumference of the circle. Six children Amol, Bijay, Champak, Divya, Esha and
Farah are sitting on the wheel facing towards the Centre. Who is facing Farah?
I. Esha is sitting diagonally opposite to Divya. Divya is sitting to the immediate left of Amol
and to the immediate right of Bijay. Champak is not sitting adjacent to Amol.
II. Amol is sitting diagonally opposite to Champak. Champak is sitting to adjacent to Bijay
as well as Esha. Esha is not sitting adjacent to Divya.
a. Either I or II b. II only c. I only d. None of these
16. Problem question: What is the speed of the train A?
I. Train A crosses 200m long train B running in opposite direction in 20sec.
II. Speed of the train B is 60kmph.
III. Length of a train A is twice that of train B.
a. I and II only b. II and III only c. I and III only d. I, II and III
e. Question cannot be answered even within formation in all three statements.
17. Problem question: Who earns most among M, N, P, Q and R?
I. M earns less than P but not less than R.
II. Q earns more than P but not equal to N.
III. N earns more than M and R.
a. Question cannot be answered even within formation in all three statements.
b. I and II only c. Only I and II or only I and III
d. I and III only e. All three statements I, II and III
18. Problem question: What is Sudha’s present salary?
I. The salary increases every year by 15%.
II. Her salary at the time of joining was 10000/-.
III. She had joined exactly 5 years ago.
a. Only II and III b. Only I and II c. All I, II and III d. Only I and III
e. none of these

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 KEY

1) a 2) c 3) e 4) e 5) e 6) d 7) a 8) b 9) c 10) d

11) e 12) e 13) a 14) d 15) a 16) d 17) a 18) c

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 CHAPTER 19
SYLLOGISM
1. INTRODUCTION:
Syllogism is a valid deductive argument having two premises and a conclusion. The
traditional type is the categorical syllogism in which both premises and the conclusion are
simple declarative statements that are constructed using only three simple terms between them,
each term appearing twice (as a subject and as a predicate): “All men are mortal; no gods are
mortal; therefore, no men are gods.” The argument in such syllogisms is valid by virtue of the
fact that it would not be possible to assert the premises and to deny the conclusion without
contradicting oneself.
1.1 A categorical syllogism consists of three parts:
i. Major premise
ii. Minor premise
iii. Conclusion
Each part is a categorical proposition, and each categorical proposition contains two
categorical terms. In Aristotle, each of the premises is in the form "All A are B," "Some A are
B", "No A are B" or "Some A are not B", where "A" is one term and "B" is another: More
modern logicians allow some variation. Each of the premises has one term in common with the
conclusion: in a major premise, this is the major term (i.e., the predicate of the conclusion); in
a minor premise, this is the minor term (i.e., the subject of the conclusion).

For example:

Major premise: All humans are mortal.

Minor premise: All Greeks are humans.

Conclusion: All Greeks are mortal.

Each of the three distinct terms represents a category. From the example above,
humans, mortal, and Greeks: mortal is the major term, and Greeks the minor term. The premises
also have one term in common with each other, which is known as the middle term; in this
example, humans. Both of the premises are universal, as is the conclusion.
The premises and conclusion of a syllogism can be any of four types, which are labelled by
letters as follows. The meaning of the letters is given by the table:

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Code Quantifier Subject Copula Predicate Type Example
All humans are
A All S are P Universal affirmative
mortal.
No humans are
E No S are P universal negative
perfect.
Some humans are
I Some S are P particular affirmative
clever.
Some humans are
O Some S are not P particular negative
not clever.

Question type: Each question will have two or more statements known as ‘premises. We have
to select the option (or the conclusions) which can be logically deduced from the given
premises.
How to solve: We use Venn Diagrams to solve this type of questions. The given statements
will be represented in the form of Venn Diagrams from which we can draw conclusions.
We have four types of statements (Premises).
1. All As are Bs
2. Some As are Bs
3. No As are Bs
4. Some As are not Bs
The Venn Diagram representation of the four types of statements is given below.

1. All As are Bs

Minimum Intersecting Diagram (MID) Possibility Diagram (PD)

2. No A is a B

MID

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 3. Some As are Bs

MID PD PD PD

4. Some As are not Bs

MID PD PD

As you can see, each statement may be represented in more than one diagram. But we
will generally consider the diagram which has the least amount of overlapping also known as
the Basic Diagram. The logic here is “If a conclusion is true while the overlapping is least, then
even after we increase the overlapping it will still be true”. This applies only for positive
conclusion namely “All As are Bs” and “Some As are Bs”. For negative conclusions namely
“No As are Bs” and “Some As are not Bs”, Basic diagram is not sufficient to decide whether
the conclusion is true or not.
The given conclusion may be true in the basic diagram but it may be wrong in an
alternate diagram. Here we use a concept called “Complimentary Pair”. A complimentary pair
is a pair of statements both of which cannot be true at the same time. Hence in order to prove
that a given negative conclusion is false we simply have to prove its complimentary pair.
We have the following complimentary pairs
1. Some As are Bs, No As are Bs/ No Bs are As
2. Some As are Bs, Some As are not Bs/ Some Bs are not As
2. All As are Bs, Some As are not Bs,

179
 PRACTICE
Directions (1-10): Each of these questions consists of two or three statements followed by two
conclusions I and II. Find which of the conclusions logically follows the given statements, even
though they are at variance with commonly known facts. Mark your answer as

A) if only conclusion I follow.

B) if only conclusion II follow.

C) if either conclusion I or conclusion II follows.

D) if neither conclusion I nor conclusion II follows.

E) if both conclusion I and conclusion II follow.

EXAMPLE 1:
Statements: 1. All bottles are glasses. 2. No cup is a glass.
Conclusions: I. No bottle is a cup. II. At least some glasses are bottles.
SOLUTION:
Venn Diagram Method:

Bottle Glass × Cup

Correct Option: E

EXAMPLE 2:
Statements: 1. All windows are doors. 2. All entrances are windows.
3. No gate is a door.
Conclusions: I. At least some windows are gates. II. No gate is an entrance.
SOLUTION:
Venn Diagram Method:

Entrance Window Door × Gate

Correct Option: B

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EXAMPLE 3:
Statements: 1. All signs are crops. All crops are areas.
Conclusions: I. Some signs are not areas. II. Some crops are not areas.
SOLUTION:
Venn Diagram Method:

Sign Crop Area

Correct Option: D

EXAMPLE 4:
Statements: 1. All songs are poems. 2. All poems are rhymes.
3. No rhyme is a paragraph.
Conclusions: I. No song is a paragraph. II. No poem is a paragraph.
SOLUTION:
Venn Diagram Method:

Song Poem Rhymes × Paragraph

Correct Option: E

EXAMPLE 5:
Statements: 1. No sheet is a paper. 2. All papers are books
Conclusions: I. Some papers are books II. Some papers are not sheets.
SOLUTION:

Venn Diagram Method:

Sheet × Paper Book

Correct Option: E

181
EXAMPLE 6:
Statements: 1. All planets are stars. 2. All meteors are planets. 3. No orbit is a star.
Conclusions: I. All meteors are stars. II. No planet is an orbit.
SOLUTION:
Venn Diagram Method:

Meteor Planet Star × Orbit

Correct Option: E

EXAMPLE 7:
Statements: 1. All apples are bananas. 2. All bananas are sweet.
Conclusions: I. Some apples are sweet. II. Some bananas are apples.
SOLUTION:
Venn Diagram Method:

Apple Banana Sweet

Correct Option: E

EXAMPLE 8:
Statements: 1. Some squares are circles. 2. No circle is a triangle. 3. No line is a square.
Conclusions: I. Some triangles are not squares. II. Some lines are circles.
SOLUTION:
Venn Diagram Method:

Line × Square Circle × Triangle

Correct Option: D

182
EXAMPLE 9:
Statements: 1. Some squares are circles. 2. No circle is a triangle.
3. No line is a square.
Conclusions: I. All squares being triangles is a possibility. II. No square is a line.
SOLUTION:

Venn Diagram Method:

Line × Square Circle × Triangle

Correct Option: B

EXAMPLE 10:
Statements: 1. Some oceans are seas. 2. All oceans are rivers.
3. No river is a canal.
Conclusions: I. All rivers can never be oceans. II. All canals being oceans is a possibility.
SOLUTION:

Venn Diagram Method:

Canal × River Ocean Sea

Correct Option: D

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 EXERCISE
Directions for questions: Each of these questions consists of two statements followed by two
conclusions I and II. Find which of the conclusions logically follows the given statements, even
though they are at variance with commonly known facts. Mark your answer as

(1) If only I follows

(2) If only II follows
(3) If either I or II follows
(4) If neither I nor II follows
(5) If both I and II follows

1. Statements: All cakes are ice-creams All ice-creams are toffees

Conclusions: I. All cakes are toffees II. All toffees are ice-creams
2. Statements: All tigers are ships Some ships are cupboards
Conclusions: I. Some tigers are cupboards II. Some cupboards are tigers
3. Statements: Some pearls are gems Some gems are ornaments
Conclusions: I. Some gems are pearls II. Some ornaments are gems
4. Statements: Some sticks are bolts All kites are sticks
Conclusions: I. Some bolts are sticks II. Some kites are bolts
5. Statements: Some teachers are adults Some adults are poets
Conclusions: I. Some teachers are poets II. Some poets are teachers
6. Statements: All coats are bags Some bags are toys
Conclusions: I. Some bags are coats II. Some toys are coats
7. Statements: All pencils are bricks All bricks are bottles
Conclusions: I. All pencils are bottles II. All bricks are pencils
8. Statements: All men are prisoners No prisoners are educated
Conclusions: I. All prisoners are educated II. No men are educated
9. Statements: Some children are adults Some adults are old
Conclusions: I. Some children are not old II. Some adults are not old
10. Statements: All birds are trees Some trees are hens
Conclusions: I. Some birds are hens II. Some hens are trees

184
11. Statements: Some snakes are birds All cats are birds
Conclusions: I. Some cats are snakes II. Some birds are snakes
12. Statements: All shawls are carpets No carpet is a pullover
Conclusions: I. No Shawls are pullovers II. All carpets are shawls
13. Statements: All pilots are brave men All Astronauts are pilots
Conclusions: I. All Astronauts are brave men II. Some pilots are astronauts
14. Statements: All teachers are good Some women are teachers
Conclusions: I. All good teachers are women II. Some women are good
15. Statements: Sohan is a good sportsman Sportsmen are healthy
Conclusions: I. All healthy persons are sportsmen II. Sohan is healthy
16. Statements: All boys are honest Sachin is honest
Conclusions: I. Sachin is a boy II. All honest persons are boys
17. Statements: Many books are rocks All rocks are clips
Conclusions: I. Some books are clips II. No rock is a book
18. Statements: All locks are keys No key is a spoon
Conclusions: I. No lock is a spoon II. No spoon is a lock
19. Statements: All young scientists are open-minded men No open-minded men are
superstitious
Conclusions: I. No young scientist is superstitious II. No superstitious are young
scientists.
20. Statements: Some hats are pins All pins are watches
Conclusions: I. No watch is a hat II. All pins are hats
21. Statements: All politicians are intelligent Some women are politicians
Conclusions: I. Some women are intelligent II. All those who are intelligent are
women
22. Statements: All bulbs are rods No rod is a gun
Conclusions: I. All rods are bulbs II. No bulb is a gun
23. Statements: Some ministers are clerks All clerks are businessmen
Conclusions: I. Some ministers are businessmen II. All businessmen are clerks.

185
24. Statements: Some desks are caps No cap is red
Conclusions: I. Some caps are desks II. No desk is red
25. Statements: All lights are trucks Some trucks are jeeps
Conclusions: I. All jeeps are lights II. Some lights are jeeps
26. Statements: Some tables are glasses All trees are tables
Conclusions: I. Some trees are glasses II. Some glasses are trees
27. Statements: Most clocks are fans Some fans are walls
Conclusions: I. Some walls are fans II. Some clocks are walls
28. Statements: All cars are tables Some children are tables
Conclusions: I. Some cars are children II. Some children are cars
29. Statements: All horses are bullocks All bullocks are goats
Conclusions: I. All horses are goats II. All goats are horses
30. Statements: Some books are pencils Some pencils are pens
Conclusions: I. Some books are pens II. Some pens are books

186
 KEY
1) 1 2) 4 3) 5 4) 1 5) 4 6) 1 7) 1 8) 2 9) 4 10) 2

11) 2 12) 1 13) 5 14) 2 15) 2 16) 4 17) 1 18) 5 19) 5 20) 4

21) 1 22) 2 23) 1 24) 1 25) 4 26) 4 27) 1 28) 4 29) 1 30) 4

187
 BIBILOGRAPHY
[1] S. Chand Publishing A modern Approach to Logical Reasoning-Includes Latest Questions
and their Solutions(English, Paperback, Aggarwal R.S.).
[2] RS Agarwal A modern Approach to Logical Reasoning-All Competitive Exams(Banking,
SSC, Railway, Police, Civil Service, etc.
[3] Best Book for Analytical Reasoning by MK Pandey.
[4] A latest Version of Logical Reasoning Book for All Placement Exams by Nishit K Sinha.
[4] Bradley H. Dowden, California State University Sacramento The goal of this book is to
improve your Logical Reasoning Skills. These skills are also called “Critical thinking sikills”.
[5] 8 Nov 2023-Best Reasoning books. 1. A Modern Approach to Verbal & Non-Verbal by R.S.
Agarwal.